This Tuesday (5) in your ANBA Bulletin: Mato Grosso has stepped up its exports to the Arab countries and climbed from the sixth to the third position among the Brazilian states that sell the most to the region. A special report by Isaura Daniel shows that the extremely agricultural state has increased its exports of products such as corn, beef, soy, and soy oil as well as gold. Year-to-date through September, Mato Grosso sales to the Middle East and North Africa grossed USD 1.1 billion. “Mato Grosso agribusiness has become more and more professional over the years, gaining productivity, practicing a sustainable agriculture, and of course managing more competitive prices, breaking into all Asia and every Arab country as a whole,” said the secretary of Economic Development of the State of Mato Grosso, César Miranda.

And the Saudi state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco’s Initial public offering (IPO) was approved by the country’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA), the local financial regulatory authority. An exact date is still to be determined, but it should occur around mid-December. The sale is a result of a pledge made by the Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman in 2016 as part of the multiannual strategic plan Vision 2030. The initiative is expected to be the largest listing in the history of financial markets.

Check also a story about Brazilian robot Robozão that has been a hit in the Arab countries. Created by Bahia-born Lei Almeida, the 2.6-meter robot dances, talks and interacts with the audience in concerts, trade shows and corporate events, and has performed in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. “Robozão has everything to be with the Arab people. His body language, music and dance create a fun connection. It seems unthinkable since it’s a such different culture, but he connected Brazil and the Arab culture,” the character creator told our reporter Bruna Garcia.