Alexandre Rocha, special envoy*
alexandre.rocha@anba.com.br
Dubai – The United Arab Emirates wants to buy more agricultural products than Brazil currently sells to the country. This demand was the subject discussed in two meetings yesterday (25) between representatives of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and of the Ministry of Agriculture with directors at Dubai Municipality and at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the emirate.
The acting director general of Dubai Municipality, Hussain Lootah, for example, said to ANBA that the country may buy more soy, maize and even chicken and beef, which are already products traditionally imported by the country. In the case of fruit, he added that the Emirates has diversified its suppliers to be able to have the same varieties all year round. Wheat is another food in great demand in the country.
"There are possibilities in the case of soy, for example, as the product is more and more known as a healthy food. In the case of maize there is too, as here there are many producers of oils," stated Lootah.
The directors at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, Juma Faraj Nasib and Nizar Sardast, added that there is great demand for rice, a grain greatly consumed in the country, and eggs. "Apart from that, Dubai is a gateway to the whole region. Around 70% of our exports are, in reality, reexports," stated Sardast.
Nasib added that there is space for the sale of flowers and, in Dubai International Airport, there is a warehouse turned to receiving roses from abroad.
The demands presented were answers to statements made by the Agribusiness Foreign Relations director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Célio Porto. According to him, Brazil is a great producer and exporter of agricultural products, but foreign sales are greatly controlled in some products like soy, sugar, chicken and beef.
"We expect to expand our participation in global trade," said Porto to Lootah. Among the products whose exports the country can expand are those of fruit, dairy products, rice and processed food. The secretary also added that Brazil has growing concerns regarding the quality of its products and health of its herd.
Investment
He asked Dubai Chamber for assistance in the identification of potential investors and for the promotion of trade missions of businessmen from the Emirates to Brazil. "There are many opportunities for investment in Brazil and they should be developed by clients and visitors. We are open to help," answered Sardast.
He added that many companies from the Emirates are turned to foreign investment, but for the time being they are greatly concentrated in the real estate sector. "But if something interesting arises in the food field, for example, why not invest?" Sardast inquired.
Sardast pointed out, however, that the best way for this investment to take place is through joint ventures between companies in both nations. The meetings also included the Marketing vice president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Rubens Hannun, the secretary general at the organisation, Michel Alaby, director Bechara Ibrahim and the director of the Trade Promotion Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Eduardo Sampaio Marques.
*Translated by Mark Ament
