Brazilians have high regard for Arabs, finds survey by Omani Embassy

8/27/2015 8:08:58 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

A survey commissioned by the Embassy of Oman in Brazil shows that Brazilians have positive views about Arabs their descendants who live in Brazil and about Arab countries.

The survey conducted by H2R Advanced Research was presented during the Cultural Days of Oman in Brazil event earlier this month. The survey covered 741 men and women from all age groups and different socio-economic profiles from all regions of the country.

Apart from that 120 people talked more specifically about their perceptions about the Arab nations. A majority of those surveyed described the Arabs who live in Brazil as hardworking (97 per cent) respectful (93 per cent) perceptive (92 per cent) entrepreneurial (91 per cent) educated (91 per cent) and studious (90 per cent).

'The image of the Arabs for the Brazilian people is a very good one a very friendly one. The majority of views expressed regarding Arabs are very positive' said Rubens Hannun president H2R and vice-president of Foreign Trade of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.

Other findings of the survey showed the level of integration of the Arab community in the Brazilian society. Although 75 per cent of those surveyed said that Arabs and their descendants preserve features of their countries of origin 88 per cent said that they like Brazil and 82 per cent believed that they were considered as Brazilians first.

While 79 per cent felt that they are well integrated into the local society. The vast majority also agreed that they would accept an Arab in their family participating in their professional life business and social interactions. Regarding the influence of Arabs in Brazil 57 per cent felt that they contributed to trade 42 per cent to cuisine 21 per cent to the economy 11 per cent to health sector and 11 per cent to art.

'Few people also cited negative opinions such as extremism war and terrorism' said Hannun. However 65 per cent of those surveyed said that the Arabs face some type of prejudice for reasons such as culture physical appearance and religion.

A surprising finding is that Brazilians believe that the Arab community in the country is mainly Muslim when in truth it is mainly Christian. The Arab community in Brazil is estimated to have more than 10mn people. At an event hosted by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Muslims Associations in Brazil in honour of the Omani delegation H E Sheikh Hamad bin Hilal al Maamari Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs in the Ministry of Heritage and Culture said 'We feel that there's a genuine interest among the citizens of Sao Paulo in getting to know other cultures.'

A number of representatives of several religious communities of Sao Paulo were invited for the event. Oman's Ambassador to Brazil H E Khalid Said al Jaradi was also present at the event.

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