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<\/a>Investe SP president Gustavo Junqueira (pictured above<\/em>) told ANBA that having an office in Dubai has come a long way in fostering relations with the Arabs during the pandemic. \u201cWe managed to maintain and further expand relations and prepare to turn this into the largest business mission Brazil has ever held, as in addition to businesspeople, we\u2019re bringing over 150 artists based in the state of S\u00e3o Paulo to exhibit in Expo. This will show yet another aspect of the state’s potential \u2013 creative economy business,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Junqueira said that the visit to the UAE is two-pronged \u2013 fundraising and business internationalization. \u201cThere\u2019re major funds here. I always say there\u2019re plenty of money in the world, what\u2019s lacking are good projects, and we managed to pack the opportunities and bring them here within the format that investors seek and the necessary legal security. We\u2019re talking PPPs in S\u00e3o Paulo to build and manage airports, road concessions, the Pinheiros River cleanup \u2013 just to get an idea, the Pinheiros River cleanup includes a billion-dollar real estate project, which is a major vision we have,\u201d Investe SP\u2019s president said, mentioning other sectors like technology, healthcare and tourism.<\/p>\n \u201cExpectations for the mission are very high,\u201d Junqueira said, without giving numbers or forecasts. \u201cIt\u2019s a very diverse group in different stages of development, and the businesspeople is always put first here. The government does its best to make businesspeople successful, and this is a long-term relationship, so we must be resilient, persistent and focused to see the major gains in breaking into and conquering these foreign markets,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Investe SP opened an office in Dubai in February 2020 headed by Silvia Person. Some companies that were in the 2020 business mission participated again this year, including children’s footwear firm Kidy Cal\u00e7ados, represented by director Ricardo Gracia, and digital bank InoveBanco, with CEO Patrick Burnett. \u201cMany companies came again to conquer even more markets, it\u2019s an ongoing relationship \u2013 they saw good results and are now making recurrent visits,\u201d Junqueira said.<\/p>\n Other participating companies are Agrimpex, Ambev, Arko Advice, Atmosfera, BRF, BYD, Cesnik, Colormaq, Dasa, DP World Santos, Fazenda Bahia, Grupo Natos, It M\u00eddia, Loft, Natural One, Paper Excellence, R Capital Asset Management, R&S Blumos, Ra\u00edzen, RV \u00cdmola, RV Log\u00edstica, Sabesp, Sebrae-SP, Semp Tcl\/Semp Amazonas, Senpar Terras De S\u00e3o Jos\u00e9, Stocche Forbes, Stussi Neves, Wet\u2019n Wild, White, and Zanchetta.<\/p>\n Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong> (ABCC) president Osmar Chohfi said in the seminar that besides exports of agriculture goods such as animal protein, maize, grains and sugars, the state of S\u00e3o Paulo is more than qualified to export higher value-added products, and he mentioned the example of machines, equipment, and hospital supplies. \u201cIt\u2019s particularly important in this mission to attract investments to the state of S\u00e3o Paulo in infrastructure, renewable energy, agribusiness, tourism. There are many opportunities and much interest from UAE-based investors in S\u00e3o Paulo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The ABCC supported the event and has a memorandum of understanding signed with Investe SP. \u201cThe cooperation agreement signed between ABCC and Investe SP has streamlined business because there\u2019s confidence, and this has made a difference,\u201d Gustavo Junqueira said.<\/p>\n Besides Junqueira and Chohfi, speakers included secretaries of the government of S\u00e3o Paulo; Fernando Igreja, ambassador of Brazil to Abu Dhabi; and Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, CEO of Dubai Investment Development Agency (FDI).<\/p>\n Al Gergawi said that the economic development allows for citizens to dream higher and make their dreams come true. \u201cDubai is open for new investments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n For Fernando Igreja, ambassador of Brazil to Abu Dhabi, the pandemic has proven that the partnership between the two countries have come to stay. He said that the visitation schedule of Brazilian officials to the UAE is full in December, thanks to Expo 2020, and he mentioned that upcoming missions include delegations from the states of Cear\u00e1, Bahia and Rond\u00f4nia, as well as ministers and president Jair Bolsonaro on Brazil day at Expo on November 15. \u201cI\u2019m exceedingly happy. With the presence of Brazil in Expo we can show that our country has come to be a great strategic partner for the public and private sector alike,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Julio Serson, secretary of Foreign Affairs of the state of S\u00e3o Paulo, said that Expo Dubai is the perfect place to be right now, particularly as the pandemic comes to an end. \u201cThis networking give us the dimension of cooperation and business possibilities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n S\u00e9rgio S\u00e1 Leit\u00e3o, secretary of Culture of the state of S\u00e3o Paulo, also spoke in the seminar. He said the state is the largest arts, media and entertainment market in Latin America. \u201cThe economy of S\u00e3o Paulo is open and eager for business,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n For Itamar Borges, secretary of Agriculture of the State of S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil has the capacity to produce a wide range of high-quality products to export across the world. \u201cAgribusiness in S\u00e3o Paulo makes a difference in both production and logistics,\u201d he finished, stressing the concern with sustainability in the agricultural production of the state.<\/p>\n Vinicius Lummertz, secretary of Tourism of the state of S\u00e3o Paulo, said the state is changing in tourism and real estate industries, with major investment opportunities for Arabs, like concessions of airports, the new Ibirapuera complex, and tourist districs.<\/p>\n Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>