São Paulo – Over the last five years, the government of Brazil has shown great interest in strengthening relations with the world. The statement was made by the extraordinary ambassador of Brazil to the Middle East, Affonso Celso de Ouro Preto, who left the position late last year. He recalls that there has been a great increase in bilateral trade, in the number of visits and in contact between both regions.
"The importance of the Arab community in Brazil is evident," said the ambassador, who met with Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce president Salim Taufic Schahin, and with members of the board at the organisation, in São Paulo. According to Ouro Preto, the Arab community in Brazil, which includes around 12 million Arabs and their descendants, has enriched the country in several sectors.
Trade relations between Brazil and the Arab countries, according to the ambassador, are the basis for the government of Brazil to continue making an effort for closer ties. "I am sure that, to the government of Brazil, relations are with states, no matter who is in power," said Ouro Preto, referring to government changes in some Arab countries.
According to him, the current government of Brazil should also continue measuring efforts for the generation of closer ties with the Arab world. One example is the visit of the Brazilian Foreign minister, Antonio Patriota, to the Arab Brazilian Chamber on Monday (21). The ambassador recalled that in recent years, apart from trade, the number of Arab embassies in Brazil, and vice versa, has also increased.
To Ouro Preto, the Arab Brazilian Chamber should play an important part together with the government of Brazil in the generation of closer ties with Arab leaders. "The Arab world is seen by Brazilians in a good light, they are seen as friends," said the ambassador.
*Translated by Mark Ament
