Gulf: A chef for organic foods

Arab Chamber to hold Brazil & Arab Countries Forum in July

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The Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries, which established itself as the main gathering place for discussions between Arabs and Brazilians, will have its 4th edition on July 4. Besides serving its mission of connecting Brazil and the Arab countries, this year’s event celebrates a special moment, the 70th anniversary of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), which holds the event.

DMCC plans on expanding business with Brazil

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Coffee, cacao, emeralds and marble from Brazil are some of the products that are part of the business expansion plan of the free zone Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) with the country. In his fourth visit to Brazil, coffee was the focus of the mission of CEO Ahmed bin Sulayem. The visits to companies and farms, he said, have already boosted green coffee shipments from Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. Until the end of the week, he’ll be in São Paulo for a series of business appointments.

Emirates to resume flights to Rio de Janeiro in November

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Emirates Airline announced the return of the Dubai-Rio de Janeiro flight as well as three other destinations later this year. From May 1, Emirates will operate flights to Bali, Indonesia. Flights to London Stansted, United Kingdom, will resume on August 1. Flights to Buenos Aires via Rio de Janeiro will restart on November 2. Emirates is also boosting flight frequencies to Nigeria, Mauritius and Singapore to cater to growing demand.

Local farming supplies Gulf-based food startup

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UAE approves digital economy strategy

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The United Arab Emirates Cabinet approved early this week a digital economy strategy that seeks to increase the contribution of the sector to the gross domestic product (GDP) from 9.7% to 19.4% over the next ten years and to enhance UAE’s regional and global position as a hub for digital economy, Arab News reported in its website.

Egypt considers stopping using dollars in ports

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In coordination with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the Egyptian Ministry of Finance is studying the possibility of dealing in Egyptian pounds for shipping agencies operating in the country. In a letter, Mohamed Maait, minister of Finance, told Ibrahim El-Araby, president of the General Federation of Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC), that the ministry received a proposal to deal in local currency instead of foreign currencies to reduce pressure on foreign currency to pay local trading expenses in sea transport companies. This would not include payment of freight.

North African women farmers demand access to technology

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Agricultural leaders from North African states have a common agenda: More agricultural technologies. In countries like Djibouti, where the agricultural production accounts for the largest share of exports, led in 2020 by items like palm oil, leguminous vegetables, living animals and sheep and goats, Fahima Mohamed Ismail, head of the women’s cooperative Restoring Hope, explains that it is imperative to expand possibilities.

Lebanese family business changes towards sustainability

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In the early 20th century, the big journey of Lebanon’s Bechara Nassar Frange was arriving from distant Lebanon to Brazil. Some years later, his son Jorge Nassar Frange took it upon himself the endeavor to turn the carpentry activity into a large business. Now, the new generations of the family carry forward the challenge of turning the furniture manufacturer JB Bechara – which is rooted in this family history and based in the city of Tanabi, São Paulo – into a company aligned with the modern corporate principles of inclusion, diversity and sustainability.

Emission control accepted in return for funding

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Brazil’s state-controlled development bank BNDES approved the provision of a financing requiring a public commitment to run inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. According to a statement released by the bank on Monday (11), this is unheard of.

Brazilian FM hosted Iftar for diplomats

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Brazil’s Foreign Affairs minister Carlos França hosted an Iftar dinner on Tuesday (12) for diplomats from Muslim-majority countries in the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília. The meal breaks the daily Ramadan fast. This year’s Ramadan started in April and runs till early May.

Brazil: Tourism and exportation create jobs

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Municipalities with a tourist vocation or that excel in the production and export of commodities are contributing to the reduction of unemployment in Brazil, reveals a survey conducted by the National Confederation of Trade of Goods, Services, and Tourism (CNC). The survey analyzed the 5,570 municipalities in the country, from which a selection was made of cities that employ at least 10,000 formal workers. The result found covered more than 660 municipalities.

Footwear exports from Brazil up 57%

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Footwear exports from Brazil went up 57% in volume to 13 million pairs in March year on year, the Brazilian Footwear Industry Association (Abicalçados) reported on Monday (11). Revenue was up 7% year on year, to USD 111.6 million. The first quarter saw a 27% increase in shipped pairs and 66% increase in volume, to 40.74 million pairs and USD 320.65 million, respectively.