The ambassador points out that the tariffs for meat in Morocco are too heavy on Brazilin products. Beef is tariffed at almost 200%, while poultry is tariffed at 100%, making it hard for Brazilian products to compete.<\/p>\n
According to Bitelli, since Morocco has free trade agreements with several meat-producing countries, this causes Brazilian meat to face very high tariffs. \u201cWe must work on reducing the tariffs and making it possible for our products to more competitively break into the Moroccan market, especially beef and poultry, which are goods that Brazil traditionally exports to the Arab countries, even because we work very well with halal<\/em> products,\u201d the ambassador said. \u201cHalal\u201d products are those adequate for Muslim to consume.<\/p>\n Bitelli said that a \u201cvery important\u201d point is the free trade agreement between Mercosur and Morocco. \u201cTalks already started but have been frozen for quite a while, and now that we signed the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union this will allow Mercosur to devote its full attention to this negotiation with Morocco \u2013 since they had been given priority to the agreement with the European Union. Now, the Moroccan officials have asked to analyze the terms and we are expecting a response from them that allow us to resume talks. It\u2019s a process with a huge potential,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n The relation between both countries, Bitelli said, includes different areas that cannot be disregarded. \u201cTherefore, we\u2019ll also work on the whole cultural relation, Brazil\u2019s promotion, the academic, sportive and educational cooperation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Tourism is another sector that may benefit from the free trade agreement between the South American bloc and the Arab country. \u201cThere\u2019s an idea to increase the frequency of Royal Air Maroc direct flights to Brazil (S\u00e3o Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), and eventually adding other destinations in Brazil, and a signed agreement would reassure us to work on that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Bitelli said he\u2019s a friend of Brazil\u2019s current ambassador to Morocco, Jos\u00e9 Humberto de Brito Cruz. \u201cI\u2019ve talked to him a lot, and it\u2019s very useful to know how different topics of the bilateral agenda are going. I also had the chance to talk to Morocco\u2019s ambassador in bras\u00edlia (Nabil Adghoghi), who\u2019s a very active diplomat and has done a great job, and we agreed to work together at both ends of this relation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Tunisia<\/strong><\/p>\n Bitelli\u2019s first post as an ambassador was in Tunisia, another Arab country in North Africa, where he stayed from 2013 to 2014. \u201cI had the privilege to be an ambassador to Tunis, Tunisia, and see the democratic transition in the country, the constituent assembly, the adoption of the Constitution, which is modern and liberal, establishing total gender equality, religious freedom; I also saw the first direct president election in the Republic of Tunisia, and seeing this great popular desire for modernization, for belonging to a more open society \u2013 which is something I see in other Arab countries as well \u2013 was an amazing experience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Regarding Morocco, the ambassador said both countries have a lot in common but have distinct dimensions. \u201cTwo Mediterranean countries that are traditionally multicultural, which is important, a tradition of openness to the world, of religious tolerance. These are some of the traits I saw in Tunisia and are also part of Morocco, and I believe they\u2019re crucial for the dialogue with a Brazil\u2019s ambassador,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Bitelli said Brazil has a \u201cwealth of goodwill\u201d in these countries. \u201cThey have great admiration for Brazil, a willingness to make things happen, a huge demand. I saw that in Tunisia and I\u2019m sure it\u2019s also there in Morocco.\u201d<\/p>\n Very enthusiastic with the chance to return to Maghreb (North African region that comprises Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania), Bitelli said he is going to work with a very important relation in a country that plays a relevant role in Africa, and has \u201ca potential to expand relations (with Brazil), which is challenging for any ambassador.\u201d<\/p>\n Bitelli was welcomed at the Arab Brazilian Chamber\u2019s headquarters by CEO Tamer Mansour, vice-presidents Osmar Chohfi (Foreign Relations), Mohamed Mourad (Administrative) and Ruy Cury (Foreign Trade), Institutional Relations manager Fernanda Baltazar and Marketing director Janine Menezes.<\/p>\n Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/WhatsApp-Image-2019-07-01-at-11.34.17-300x225.jpeg\")
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