This Wednesday (12) in your ANBA Bulletin: 21 brands from Egypt are on showcase at the Fispal Food Service expo, taking place until next Friday (14) in São Paulo. Egypt's Economic and Commercial office in the city has a stand at the trade show, in partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. Items on offer include olives, dried tomatoes, herbs and spices, artichoke, tahini, halva, hummus, dates, hibiscus, juices and other drinks, and shisha tobacco. “Ninety percent of them are not operating in Brazil. So, we brought their products to understand the market and see if there is demand,” consul and Office chief Mohamed Elkhatib (pictured) told ANBA's Thais Sousa.

And the World Chambers Congress, hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), opened this Wednesday in Rio with numerous delegates from Arab countries. Besides the Arab Brazilian Chamber, commerce and industry chambers from Dubai, Sharjah and Qatar have stands in the exhibition concurrent with the event. Arab businesspersons and speakers are also involved. “It is a very fitting thing for us to be at a congress that will be attended by this many Arabs. We will be there to welcome them, and to facilitate and build novel relations,”Arab Chamber president Rubens Hannun told Bruna Garcia of ANBA, who's reporting daily from Rio until next Friday.

And the Arab Chamber was honored this week during the São Paulo Development Forum (Fopa) in recognition of its work for the state and national economies. “The Chamber has been based in São Paulo for over 65 years now, and there is no question that throughout its history it has done a lot for the State,” said Hannun.