São Paulo – The minister of Economy and Trade of Syria, Amer Husni Lufti, wants to increase trade relations with Brazil. He met yesterday (20) in Damascus with the Brazilian delegation that is in the country to present the potential of the national machinery and electronic product industry. Apart from trade, the minister also spoke about investment opportunities in Syria.
According to the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, who is participating in the delegation, the minister said that the economy of the Arab country is being opened, resulting in opportunities for Brazilian businessmen and investors. Lufti stated that Syria is interested in Brazilian agricultural machinery, ore exploration equipment, material for solar energy and silos.
The minister recalled that when he came to Brazil, in November 2005, he visited several organisations, including the Arab Brazilian Chamber, in São Paulo. Lufti also visited Damascus International Fair, which began on Friday (15), in the Syrian capital.
The vice president at the Brazilian Machinery Manufacturers Association (Abimaq), Carlos Nogueira, and the director of the Association of the Brazilian Electric and Electronic Industry (Abinee), Niels Kleer, who are on the Brazilian delegation, also spoke to the minister about the potential of the sectors that their organisations represent.
The Brazilians also met yesterday with Syrian businessmen who showed interest in importing machinery from Brazil. Among them were directors Talal and Omar Takla, of construction company Fouad Takla, which has offices in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and England. According to Alaby, the company does not yet import from Brazil and should visit the Brazilian stand at the Big 5, the building sector fair to take place in Dubai, in November.
Fairs
The Brazilian delegation also met with the director general of Damascus International Fair, Mohammad Hammoud, and with the deputy minister of Economy and Trade of Syria, Ghassan Wadea Al Eed. According to Alaby, the director general is interested in coming to Brazil to organise the participation of Syrian companies in textile, food and handicraft sector fairs in the country.
*Translated by Mark Ament
