{"id":294930,"date":"2021-06-23T20:03:04","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T23:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/?p=294930"},"modified":"2021-06-25T13:56:57","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T16:56:57","slug":"palestine-exports-pharmaceuticals-and-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/en\/palestine-exports-pharmaceuticals-and-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Palestine exports pharmaceutical and food items"},"content":{"rendered":"

S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 Palestine is a producer and exporter of pharmaceutical products. In addition to supplying international markets with its products, the country has space for foreign investors in this industry. The president of the Palestinian Pharmaceutical Union, Rami Qutub (pictured above<\/em>), spoke on the subject at the 1st Brazil-Palestine Business Seminar \u2013 Partnerships and Opportunities in the Food and Pharmaceutical Sectors, which took place this Wednesday (23) online and got some 400 viewers from Brazil and Palestine.<\/p>\n

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Seminar brought together authorities and experts<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Palestine exports medication to 22 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia [former Soviet republics \u2013 CIS]. Qutub said that only one Palestinian company sells to Latin America and emphasized that the Pharmaceutical Union is \u201cknocking at the region\u2019s door\u201d to make way for Palestinian products.<\/p>\n

In addition, he discussed specific areas of the Palestinian pharmaceutical industry that need investments and can receive foreign companies. \u201cThere are great investment opportunities, for example, in cancer drugs. We don\u2019t have any Palestinian company with the necessary technology to manufacture these drugs,\u201d said Qutub.<\/p>\n

Palestine also imports pharmaceutical inputs. \u201cAnother area that we can develop is raw materials. Today, we import from East Asia, and I know that in Brazil and Latin America, we can obtain these inputs, which are very necessary for Palestinian industry. We are facing this issue of lack of raw material, and we want to offer the best medicine for the Palestinian population,\u201d concluded Qutub.<\/p>\n

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Lahmann spoke about Brazilian production<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The executive director of Eurofarma, Walker Lahmann, also participated in the event. According to him, the Brazilian pharmaceutical market value is approximately USD 20 billion, having around 200 pharmaceutical companies producing or selling medication in Brazil, and national companies have a relevant production. He emphasized that the country manufactures original and generic medicines, with over 6,000 different drugs being sold in the country today in multiple areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a market that has been growing between 10% and 15% a year and, in addition to the production of drugs, we also have innovation in Brazil. Among the innovations, we have the development of inputs; as Mr. Qutub mentioned, it could be important. It is not a very large production, but we do have it, and this can be a source of dialogue with Palestine,\u201d said Lahmann.<\/p>\n

Another area that Lahmann showed interest in was oncological drugs. \u201cRegarding investments, perhaps the oncology area could be interesting since production does not exist in Palestine. These are drug types that are increasing their sales with the aging of the population, so investment in the production of this type of medicine might be attractive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Eurofarma is a Brazilian company present in 20 countries in Latin America, Lahmann highlighted. \u201cIn other words, we started making investments in Latin America, due to the geographic proximity, the linguistic similarity,\u201d he said, emphasizing he is open to investing in Palestine.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to understand how regulatory issues are in Palestine because they can be limiting for any import or export of medication. Without a doubt, we are interested in investing, importing, and exporting medicines to Palestine, establishing this trade flow. We have our doors open, and I am at your disposal to start this dialogue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Food<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ghalyuon: we want to exchange<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The president of the Palestinian Food Industries Union (PFIU), Bassam Abu Ghalyuon, informed that the Arab country exports to 70 nations worldwide and could export to all of them, following the needs of international consumers. He wants to strengthen cooperation with Brazil in the food sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want exchanges in the science and technology area between Brazil and Palestine, and that Palestinian students can acquire experience in Brazilian institutions. We want to strengthen the relationship between the chambers of commerce to facilitate this exchange,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Bassi talked about olive oil consumption in Brazil<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He also called for the opening of the Brazilian market to Palestinian products, mainly dates, olives, and medicinal plants. \u201cSeveral products can be offered to the Brazilian consumer. We want to facilitate the export of products from the Gaza Strip to strengthen the Palestinian economy further,\u201d he said. He stated that any investment in Palestine is welcome, and the country is ready for cooperation.<\/p>\n

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Cardinali spoke about CEAGESP’s products<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The president of the Brazilian Association of Olive Oil Producers and Importers (OLIVA), Rita Bassi, said the Brazilian market has space for olive oil from Palestine. \u201cImporting olive oil into Brazil is not very bureaucratic; we have rules with the Ministry of Agriculture, there are specifications, but there is space for Palestine to bring these olive oils to Brazil,\u201d she said. Bassi said that about 52% of the Brazilian population uses olive oil in their cooking. \u201cWe are available to industries that need information and support,\u201d she told the Palestinians.<\/p>\n

The economic analyst of the Economics and Development Section of the S\u00e3o Paulo General Store and Warehouse Company (CEAGESP), Ubaldo Cardinali, also participated in the meeting. He explained that CEAGESP receives 110 tonnes of food from the Arab world per year, which is a small amount compared to this market\u2019s potential and the total sold by CEAGESP (1.6 million tonnes of fruit, on average, per year). The leading Arab food products sold at CEAGESP are dates, raisins, apricots, and prunes.<\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Jibrine: exports to strengthen Palestine<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Palestinian Federation of Industries (PFI) council chairman, Bassam Alwalweel, emphasized that Palestine wants to foster and strengthen economic ties with Brazil. \u201cWe have 16 federations of industries in Palestine, in food, gold, medicine, among other sectors, and we have the capacity and potential to export to Brazil, we know it is a distant country, but in our hearts, we are very close,\u201d he said. Alwalweel also wants investment by Brazilian industries in Palestine, mainly in agribusiness.<\/p>\n

Palestine Trade Center (PalTrade) board member and Al-Jebrini Dairy & Food Industry Company\u2019s office commercial head, Zyad Al-Jebrini, sees exports as an essential step in strengthening the Palestinian economy. \u201cWe are ready to build partnerships with Brazil. We want to obtain incentives for bilateral trade and see Palestinian companies in various international markets,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Hashem wants trades with friendly countries<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The president of the Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (FPCCIA), Omar Hashem, stated he wants to endeavor for mutual investments, despite the current circumstances imposed by the pandemic. \u201cWe want to encourage imports from friendly countries, not through Israeli occupation; we want independence from Israel and direct import from the Brazilian market,\u201d he said. The director of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hebron, Tareq Tamimi, also participated and spoke on the commercial exchange with Brazil.<\/p>\n

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Osaily suggested an exchange of experiences<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The president of the Palestinian Businessmen Forum (PBFORUM), Amer Osaily, stated that the forum represents Palestinian businesspeople in their interests and wants to build relationships with local and international investors. \u201cWe want dialogue and exchange of experiences, I want us to have direct businesses without Israeli interference, I hope to involve Latin America in this project, we have great potential, we can build partnerships between the private sector in Palestine and Brazil, we can eliminate the hurdles to more effective relations between our countries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The virtual event was held by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> (ABCC) in partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Economy, the Embassy of Palestine to Brazil, and the Brazilian Representation Office in Ramallah. One of the seminar\u2019s moderators, the secretary-general of the ABCC, Tamer Mansour, said that after the pandemic, business missions to Palestine could be carried out and emphasized the importance of the Mercosur-Palestine free trade agreement coming into effect. The New Business director at the ABCC, Daniella Leite, and the Marketing & Content director at the institution, Silvana Gomes, moderated the virtual event along with Mansour. Brazilian and Palestinian authorities attended the seminar (read the article below).<\/p>\n

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Read more on the webinar:<\/p>\n

Palestine wants to attract Brazilian investment<\/a><\/p>\n

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Watch the full event:<\/p>\n