{"id":208674,"date":"2019-01-31T18:31:34","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T20:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=208674"},"modified":"2019-02-04T13:53:18","modified_gmt":"2019-02-04T15:53:18","slug":"union-of-arab-chambers-want-partnership-with-brazil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/union-of-arab-chambers-want-partnership-with-brazil\/","title":{"rendered":"Arab Chambers want strategic partnership with Brazil"},"content":{"rendered":"

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Union of Arab Chambers<\/a> secretary-general Khaled Hanafy proposed the creation of a new business model between Brazil and the Arab countries to Brazilian businessmen e authorities. Hanafy was in S\u00e3o Paulo and Bras\u00edlia this week and met with representatives from both public and private sectors. \u201cThis strategic change of the business model between Brazil and the Arab world is extremely important,\u201d Hanafy said to ANBA on Wednesday (30) night in S\u00e3o Paulo, a few hours before catching his flight to Cairo, Egypt.<\/p>\n

\"\"
From left to right, Hannun, Santin, from ABPA, and Hanafy: proposal for a production chain integration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Union is the main business entity in the Middle East and North Africa; it is a branch of the League of Arab States for the private sector. It brings together under its umbrella chambers of commerce from all Arab countries and outside the region, such as the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe proposed a change from the traditional model based in simple trade \u2013 exports and imports \u2013 to one based in a strategic alliance,\u201d said Hanafy. \u201cThat means we need more from Brazil than just agribusiness products exports,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

To build this partnership, the executive suggested initiatives that add value to business and benefit both sides, such as the creation of direct sea routes between Brazil and the Arab countries; establishing storage, processing and distribution hub of Brazilian products in an Arab port; investments in joint ventures; and others. The goal is to promote further integration of the productive chain of both regions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis prevents unexpected measures one country or administration may take, which is expected to happen in a simple model of export,\u201d he stressed. The intention is that economic relations reach a solid level that make them more resilient to unilateral actions from governments such as the imposition of barriers, retaliations and political decisions.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Pedro Parente (left) and Hanafy at BRF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In S\u00e3o Paulo, together with Arab Brazilian Chamber president Rubens Hannun, Hanafy met with S\u00e3o Paulo secretary of Finance Henrique Meirelles, Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA<\/a>) vice-president Ricardo Santin, and Pedro Parente, president of BRF, the holding that owns the brands Sadia and Perdig\u00e3o. The Arab countries are among the main foreign markets for Brazilian meat and poultry.<\/p>\n

Integration<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Union secretary-general discussed proposals such as gathering small producers in Brazil, undertaking Arab investments in these businesses and exporting production to the Middle East and North Africa; exporting one-day chicks for fattening in the region; selling in-natura poultry for industrialization there; and shipping corn and soy to be storage and processed there, and further distributing it to other Arab countries and their partners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Arab countries have 400 million people, but including our trade partners in Africa, the Middle East and other regions, the number climbs to 2 billion,\u201d said Hanafy, referring to the potential market. The secretary-general used to be the Egyptian minister of Supply and Internal Trade.<\/p>\n

In S\u00e3o Paulo, he also participated in the Arab Chamber Superior Management Council meeting<\/a>, which elected the entity\u2019s board for 2019\/2020 (upper photo)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
From left to right, Hanafy, Arab Chamber vice-president Osmar Chohfi, Hannun and Mour\u00e3o<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Brasilia, also with Hannun, Hanafy met with vice-president Hamilton Mour\u00e3o and minister of agriculture Tereza Cristina<\/a>, Senate Committee of Foreign Relations president Fernando Collor, senator Tasso Jereissati, and the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil.<\/p>\n

According to him, the vice-president showed great interest in investments in sea transport and logistics and was invited to participate in a logistics forum of the Arab countries to be held in the second half of the year. \u201cThe idea of logistic areas [in ports] in the Arab world was also very well received,\u201d he commented. \u201cWe also talked about using some sovereign funds \u2013 which was also discussed with the Arab ambassadors -, part of these funds\u2019 investments may come here to put some of the very ideas I mentioned into practice,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n

About the meeting with Tereza Cristina, according to Hanafy, the minister said the business proposals sounded like \u201cmusic to her ears.\u201d He invited her to participate in an Arab forum on food security to be held also in the second half. This is one of the most important topics for the Arab countries.<\/p>\n

Arab Brazilian Chamber<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Union secretary-general said the trip to Brazil was \u201cvery successful.\u201d \u201cThe Brazilian Arab Chamber makes a great job building bridges,\u201d he praised. He stressed the entity is deepening its partnership with the Union and mentioned its participation in events such as the food security forum in Fujairah<\/a>, UAE, in November 2018, and the Arab Private Sector Forum<\/a> in January 2019 in Beirut, Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\u201cOpportunities in Brazil started being known in the Arab world through the Arab Brazilian Chamber,\u201d stressed Hanafy.<\/p>\n

He says he is optimistic with the potential growth in economic relations between Brazil and the region. \u201cWe see a great willingness from both sides,\u201d he declared, and added Brazil is a priority among Arabs because there are similarities in both business cultures.<\/p>\n

Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rodrigo Rodrigues\/Arab Brazilian Chamber<\/div>\n
Arab Brazilian Chamber<\/div>\n
Arab Brazilian Chamber<\/div>\n
Arab Brazilian Chamber<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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