![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/missaoegitochohfi-300x200.jpg\")
In the morning of the 14th<\/sup>, discussions will cover aspects of Brazil-Egypt trade, including the business opportunities brought about by the Mercosur-Egypt free trade agreement that went into force late last year. B2B sessions will take place in the afternoon. \u201cThe focus will be on fostering exports through business-to-business meetings, but access to local authorities in industry and trade can help sort out hurdles to exports,\u201d said Ribeiro.<\/p>\n Organizers are looking to get players in housing and construction, healthcare, agribusiness, food and beverages, and machinery and equipment to join, since Egypt\u2019s is a prospective market for them. In speaking to would-be mission members at the Arab Chamber, Ribeiro explained the economic reforms underway on the back of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restructure the economy, including a Value-Added Tax (IVA), fuel subsidy cuts and a gradual loosening of exchange rate policy.<\/p>\n Ribeiro said that Egypt is North Africa\u2019s biggest market, and that it has recently discovered the Zohr oilfield, which should help give the economy a boost. Quoting IMF estimates, he said Egypt should see 5.7% growth per year on average through 2022. \u201cThis scenario of recovery and globalization of Egypt\u2019s economy should lead to a rebound in imports and therefore to new business opportunities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n According to Ribeiro, Brazil is Egypt\u2019s seventh leading supplier of goods, but sales lack variety, with sugar, beef, maize, iron ore and poultry making up 76.3% of sales. \u201cThat is why we find it necessary to engage in actions such as this mission,\u201d he said, describing the effort as a driver of diversification and exports of higher value-added goods from Brazil.<\/p>\n Ribeiro said that the Egypt-Mercosur agreement is not yet well-known, with untapped potential. \u201cIt\u2019s a very comprehensive agreement, covering 9,800 tariffs (items) and that is still underused,\u201d said the director. That\u2019s why this will be one of the topics of the corporate meeting to be held in Cairo in the mission\u2019s second day. The average tariff applied by Egypt to imports stands at 19.1%, but 26% of all of the products included in the agreement with Mercosur were tagged with zero tariffs when the deal went in to effect.<\/p>\n Apex-Brasil\u2019s Manager of Market Strategy, Sueme Mori Andrade, recalled that Egypt is, traditionally, an import market because it\u2019s not self-sufficient. She presented a market research on some products. From 2013 to 2016, the annual average growth of fresh beef purchases by the country stood at 6.5%, with Brazil\u2019s supply in the sector growing 6.93%. In the case of frozen, cooled and fresh fish, imports by Egypt rose 32.5%, with Brazil\u2019s sales to the country increasing 123.4%.<\/p>\n The Arab Chamber\u2019s vice president of International Affairs Osmar Chohfi opened the event at the Arab Chamber and stated that trade between Brazil and Egypt has been presenting sustainable growth. According to him, trade between the two countries generated USD 1.6 billion from January to September, with the possibility to grow.<\/p>\n The Arab Chamber\u2019s CEO Michel Alaby presented some details on some sectors in Egypt with significant demand, such as the food products field. \u201cRice and pasta are everyday consumer products across social classes,\u201d he said. Alaby mentioned the fields of healthcare, with good potential due to Egypt\u2019s population growth, and of machinery, boosted by the agricultural sector. \u201cTo sell, one has to be on display,\u201d said Alaby to business owners.<\/p>\n Egypt\u2019s trade consul and head of the country\u2019s Economic and Commercial Office in S\u00e3o Paulo, Mohamed Elkhatib, also spoke at the event and invited the entrepreneurs to invest in his country. He said that trade and investments opportunities are currently \u201cunlimited\u201d. The manager of Trade Promotion Department of Brazil\u2019s Ministry of Defense, Leonardo Jos\u00e9 T. de Gusm\u00e3o, also spoke at the event.<\/p>\n The mission will also include officials from other departments of the Brazilian government, in addition to those mentioned above, such as the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC) and the Secretary of State. Registration to companies interested in taking part are open at the Trade Promotion Operations Division of Itamaraty\u00a0(contacts below)<\/em>, but members of the Arab Chamber can register via the organization.<\/p>\n Contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n Mission to Egypt Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum and S\u00e9rgio Kakitani <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/missaoegitoapex-300x200.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/missaoegitokhatib-300x200.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/missaoaoegitoalaby-300x200.jpg\")
\nNovember 13 and 14, 2018
\nFurther information and registrations at DOC\/MRE
\nPhone: 55 61 2030 8529 \u2013 2030 8530
\nEmail: doc@itamaraty.gov.br<\/p>\n