Alexandre Rocha*
São Paulo – The consolidation of relations between Brazil and Tunisia was the result of the work of almost five years of the Tunisian ambassador in Brazilian capital Brasília, Hassine Bouzid, who has just left his position. In an interview to ANBA, during his last visit to the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce before returning to his country, he made an analysis of his term, which began in October 2000. "We consolidated relations between Brazil and Tunisia in all areas," he declared.
He discussed other more important factors and events that occurred during his stay and pointed out the part played by the Arab Brazilian Chamber in the execution of several of them. "The first visit that I made outside Brasília was to the Arab Brazilian Chamber and the last is also here. This is not a coincidence, but an expression of the solid cooperation between the Chamber and the Tunisian embassy," he said.
Among these events he pointed out two Tunisian Business Journeys, in 2002 and 2004, the signing of cooperation accords between the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital and the Sousse Hospital, in the Arab country, and the creation of the Brazil-Tunisia Business Council. Bouzid recalled that in these last five years 12 cooperation agreements were signed between his country and Brazil, among them the one that eliminated the need for visas, and three honorary consuls were nominated, one being the Marketing vice president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Rubens Hannun, who holds the position in São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, in the southeast of the country.
"During these five years, trade between both countries grew over 100%," he said. In 2000, bilateral trade totalled US$ 85.8 million, whereas last year the total was US$ 186.8 million. Now, in his evaluation, it is time to establish industrial partnerships.
The diplomat, who is 59 years old, graduated in Economics and got a post-graduate degree in Public Administration. He started working in civil services in 1972, as a joint director in the State Budget sector at the Tunisian Ministry of Finance. From then on he has already been, among other positions, the head of cabinet at the Ministry of Trade, the president of two state-owned companies, the general director at the Tunisian Export Promotion Centre (Cepex), the country representative at the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Oman and, before coming to Brazil, the secretary general of the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His replacement, Zouhaier Allagui, should arrive in the country in October. Below the main stretches of the interview:
ANBA – When did you arrive in Brazil?
Hassine Bouzid – I arrived on October 30, 2000, and I am pleased to say that the first visit I made outside Brasília was to the Arab Brazilian Chamber, in December of the same year. And my last visit in Brazil is also being to the Chamber. This is very meaningful. It is not a coincidence, but an expression of the solid cooperation between the Chamber and the Tunisian embassy. Cooperation began in 1998, before my arrival, when the organization helped the Tunisian embassy to organize the first Tunisian tourist week in São Paulo. After that, the Chamber also helped the embassy to organize two Tunisian weeks (business missions) in São Paulo, in 2002 and 2004. The institution also helped in the signing of hospital cooperation accords between the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital and Sousse Hospital, in Tunisia. Apart from that, the organization also helped in trips by Tunisian businessmen to São Paulo.
What was the most important event that happened here?
Firstly, in a general manner, what we did over these five years was the consolidation of relations between Brazil and Tunisia in all areas, like politics, economics and culture. During this period we signed "only" 12 agreements and have another six projects to be worked on and signed.
Which agreements, in your opinion, were the most relevant?
The agreement about political consultations between both ministries, Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty) and the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the agreement between the Rio Branco Institute (Brazilian diplomacy school) and the Tunisian diplomatic institute, the agreement between the two hospitals previously mentioned, the agreement between the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (Apex) and the Tunisian Export Promotion Centre (Cepex), and another very important one which created the Brazil-Tunisia Business Council. During these five years, trade between both countries grew over 100%. Nowadays Brazil is the 12th greatest client and 16th greatest supplier of Tunisia, and is one of the most important trade partners. In this period we also nominated three honorary consuls. First in 2001 in Porto Alegre (Heiz Huyer), in 2002 in São Paulo (Rubens Hannun, the Arab Brazilian Chamber Marketing vice president) and in 2004, in no Rio de Janeiro (Márcio Fortes).
How about the six agreements still to be signed?
They are in the university, agricultural and sports areas and forecast the exchange of professors, students and researches. They are very ample.
Are relations between Brazil and Tunisia therefore consolidated?
Economic and cultural relations presented great development, but they have not yet reached the level of political relations. There is therefore very much to do and we must hope to double the current trade volume between the two countries over the next three of four years, as there are many opportunities to increase exports and imports. Both countries must now work on an industrial partnership. We must pay special attention to cooperation in this sector, to complete, for example, some Brazilian projects in Tunisia, for production for export to the European, Arab and African countries with which Tunisia has trade preference agreements that eliminate taxes and quotas for some products. There should also be development in the tourism sector. In August 2004 an agreement cancelling the need for visas between both countries was put in place.
Is there anything you would have liked to have done but did not?
No. I think I am going to leave Brazil feeling that I have accomplished my mission. I think I did what I had to do. And what I did, I did with passion.
*Translated by Mark Ament
