São Paulo – The future has arrived early as a result of the pandemic. In 2020, virtual meetings, events, trade shows, new business deals and the signing of agreements are taking place within computers. That’s how things will be going forward: an amalgamation of digital and real, according to the speakers in the panel “CEO Talks – A New Order in International Business,” during the Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries hosted by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).
Moderated by ABCC Treasury director Nahid Chicani, the online meeting held this Tuesday morning (20) featured UAE-based company Tradeling’s CEO Muhammad Chbib (pictured above); the CEO of Lebanon’s Pharmamed, Hanan Saab; and the founder of Brazil’s Digital Strategy Company, Silvio Meira.
Chicani brought up two challenging issues to the panelists: the postponement of Expo 2020, slated for this year in Dubai, until 2021; and the advantages of blockchain technology, which the ABCC is about to roll out.
Chbib said there is “no question” that as soon as treatment for Covid-19 is available, events will resume. However, he notes that it will be a while before fairs, exhibitions, B2B events and conferences get back to speed. “There will be a combination of actual and virtual events, and in spite of budgetary restrictions, everyone can join online trade shows, because technology will help rebuild relationships at the business and personal levels.”
He pointed out that implementation of blockchain technology will add to the new physical and virtual world. After all, he says, blockchain ensures safe transfer and the sharing of information in virtual blocks which connect via cryptography. This technology enables a safer business environment. “When international partners are not as familiar with one another as local partners, it’s a different relationship. Blockchain is a facilitator of relationships (by adding safety to transactions)”.
Silvio Meira is of the same opinion. He sees a near future comprised of three dimensions: the digital, the physical, and the social. After all, the “social” element in human relationships is present in the digital as well as the physical realm. “For 25 years now, since the advent of the internet, we have been transitioning from physical space to an articulation where the physical is enhanced by the digital. The combination of those two spaces is orchestrated by the social space, and now we have three dimensions: the physical, which already existed; the digital, which has become more relevant to our lives; and the social, which has always been important in our analog lives, to articulate our lives,” he said.
He also said the implementation of blockchain ensures the safety of information shared by business partners not as familiar with one another. “As the Arab Chamber creates registers that can be deposited into this infrastructure, they will be documented, and will be unchangeable. I believe that makes for easier, simpler international relations,” Meira said.
Hanan Saab stressed the power of technology to add to global dialogue amid the pandemic, to warn the world about countries that were underequipped to address grave situations, and to help organize the flow of patients to hospitals.
“Patients have avoided going to hospitals out of fear of contracting the coronavirus. Creating clinics apart from the hospitals proved to be the safest practice, and moreover, physicians turned to telemedicine to cater to chronically ill patients so they wouldn’t have to go to the hospital. Besides, telemedicine has helped analyze Covid-19 infection. That relieved pressure on hospitals by limiting exposure and curbing the virus’ spread,” he said.
Check out the full coverage on ANBA.
Special report from Marcos Carrieri for ANBA.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
