S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 In the first half of 2005, when annual bilateral trade between Brazil and the Arab countries totalled US$ 8.2 billion, the then-minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, set the goal of reaching US$ 15 billion within three years. At the same time, the secretary general at the League of Arab States, Amr Mussa, estimated that bilateral trade would double within five years. Little over four years later, the volume of trade reached US$ 20.3 billion in 2008, growth of 148%.<\/p>\n
\u201cHad that goal been set [for the 2008 result] in the beginning of our term in office, we would have found it unattainable,\u201d said yesterday (15) the president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Antonio Sarkis Jr., who headed the organisation in two terms over the last four years and should turn the chair over to his successor by the end of this month. \u201cIt has been a challenge, but we have reached a very satisfactory figure,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
During that period, there has been an intense political coming together of Brazil with the Arab countries, with more and more authorities from the region visiting Brazil and vice-versa; an expansion of cultural relations, with the Chamber backing up different initiatives in the area; and a strong increase in the visibility of the Brazilian economy in the Arab world, as well as of Arab economies in Brazil.<\/p>\n
With regard to promoting bilateral relations, the Arab Brazilian Chamber has played a pivotal role. It either organised or participated in over 200 events in Brazil and abroad in the last four years, a figure that includes trade shows, trade missions, seminars, lectures, business roundtables, meetings and receptions to government officials, among other activities.<\/p>\n
The institution has also increased the number of cooperation agreements it sustains with other organisations. Currently it is a partner, for example, with the ministries of Agriculture, of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, of Foreign Relations and of Tourism for the organisation of events in Brazil and abroad.<\/p>\n
After these four years and much work by the organisation, Brazilian exports to the Arab world grew 143.3%, having totalled US$ 9.8 billion in 2008. Imports, in turn, rose by 148% to reach US$ 10.5 billion last year.<\/p>\n
Sarkis underscored the fact that the balance of trade was even during his administration, as it was tilted towards the Brazilian side for two years, and to the Arab side for the other two. \u201cThat goes to show that trade has behaved in a desirable fashion, with a growing trade volume and a near-stable balance,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n
In addition to figures concerning trade, the increase in number of consultations received by the Chamber attests to the strengthening of bilateral relations. Requests for commercial information at the website of the organisation (www.ccab.org.br) went from 340 in 2006 to 730 in 2008, and the countries that made the most requests were Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Jordan and Libya. Most sought products were foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, replacement parts and furniture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Arabs have started paying more attention to Brazil,\u201d said Sarkis. And not only concerning trade, but also in terms of investment opportunities and tourism. He mentioned as an important event in the last four years the inauguration of the daily flight between Dubai and S\u00e3o Paulo, by Emirates Airline, which has made the traffic of goods and people easier and helped boost bilateral relations in different areas.<\/p>\n
Sarkis asserted that the interest of Arab investors in Brazil is growing, especially in the areas of agribusiness, energy and infrastructure. \u201cBrazil currently has a financial system that is known to be solid, and it is important for us to seize this moment, so that the country may leave the crisis better than other regions of the world,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n
Among other noteworthy events that took place during his term in office, he mentioned the first visit of Amr Mussa to Brazil and the Chamber, in 2005; the business forum that took place after the Summit of South American and Arab Countries (Aspa) and brought together approximately 500 businessmen, also in 2005; and the visit of the king of Jordan, Abdullah II, to Brazil in October last year. \u201cThose were marking events that happened near the beginning and the end of the term, and the king’s visit was a grand finale,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
And the Chamber’s activities continue. On the 24th, representatives of the organisation leave to North Africa in a delegation headed by minister Miguel Jorge (Development); in February, it will return to the Gulfood, the Middle East’s leading food industry trade fair, in Dubai; and in late March, it will be present as one of the organisers of the business conference that precedes the 2nd Aspa Summit, in Doha, Qatar.<\/p>\n
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum <\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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