Brazil Seeks Cooperation With Arabs In Fertilizer Sector

(MENAFN- Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA))

São Paulo – The opening of the Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries brought up topics such as imports and production of fertilizers, expansion, and diversification of trade between the regions. In a recorded speech, the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, Marcos Montes (pictured above), defended partnerships between Arab and Brazilian companies to produce fertilizers in the South American country.

Montes traveled to Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco in May to negotiate the expansion of fertilizer shipments to Brazil, which had its supply at risk due to the war in Ukraine. The minister seeks companies from these Arab countries, which supply about 26% of fertilizers imported by Brazil, to also have facilities in Brazilian territory.

“Wherever I went, I received expressions of interest in making investments and strengthening trade ties with Brazil,” he said.“Our mission, now, is to transform this interest into concrete opportunities to benefit all the involved players,” said Montes.

The minister reinforced Brazil's commitment to ensuring food supply to the Arab countries. The 22 countries of the Arab League add up to 420 million people. For Montes, the growth potential in trade between Brazil and the Arab countries is significant. According to him, the challenge is increasing export volumes and diversifying the trade basket.

Brazil: More attractive

França: Brazil is more attractive

Brazilian minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos França spoke through a video at the opening. In his opinion, Brazil has become one of the most attractive markets for Arab investment in the world and has drawn increasing amounts of Arab capital, mainly in the infrastructure, food, manufacturing, and tourism sectors.

“Despite the pandemic and, more recently, the conflict in Ukraine, these ties have strengthened. Our trade with the Arab countries, which reached the historical figure of USD 24 billion, still has immense potential,” said the current head of Brazilian diplomacy in a recorded speech. Carlos França also highlighted the importance of the Arabs in supplying fertilizers to Brazilian agribusiness.

New mission to Arab countries

The secretary of Strategic Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic, Flávio Rocha, stated the secretariat (SAE) would carry out a new investment prospecting mission to other Arab countries not included in the first, which occurred last June, passing through nine nations. Rocha did not detail which countries would be visited.

Rocha participated in the forum in São Paulo

Admiral Rocha highlighted the first mission gave visibility to the Brazilian aircraft and defense industries, facilitating business on both fronts.“Between Brazil and the Arab world, there is not only a buying and selling relationship but also trust, [as it should be] between countries willing to buy defense products,” he said.

He also stated the rapprochement between Brazil and the Arab countries did not happen by chance. For him, the geopolitical convictions of the two regions are“convergent,” and there are no barriers to a closer relationship.

Sensitive issues

The Palestinian ambassador and dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors to Brazil, Ibrahim Alzeben, emphasized most of the ambassadors were present, which, according to him, proves the importance they give to the forum.“May we continue together the journey developed over seven decades,” he said.

Alzeben spoke on the Arab participation

“This edition of the forum takes place in sensitive circumstances of life and humanity, which face delicate and existential questions brought to the forefront by the pandemic and the ongoing war in Europe. For decades, countries, institutions, and individuals have neglected and turned a blind eye to many of the fundamental issues affecting our existence, so crises have come to us in a bundle at the same time, putting us before a choice, a test of to be or not to be,” reflected the Palestinian ambassador.

The dean expressed the commitment of the Council of Arab Ambassadors to join efforts to boost cooperation between Brazil and the Arab countries.“This friendly country, dear to the hearts of the Arab people, thanks to its positions on Arab issues, especially the Palestinian cause. We wish the Arab Brazilian Chamber more growth and achievements to accompany our ambitions for fruitful relations,” he said.

Rapprochement

The Foreign Trade secretary of the Brazilian Ministry of Economy, Lucas Ferraz, spoke over the internet representing minister Paulo Guedes. He stressed the economic plan is geared toward the growth of Brazilian productivity, mentioning the reduction of Brazil's costs, taxes, non-tariff barriers, and the conclusion of the investment facilitation agreement with Morocco. Ferraz stated Brazil has been in talks on the same agreement with Saudi Arabia and a free trade agreement with Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.“These are fundamental issues. We want the trade basket to be more diversified, both in exports and imports,” he declared.

Ferraz represented minister Paulo Guedes

Also at the opening were Ambassador Osmar Chohfi, president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC); Augusto Pestana, president of the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil); Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, through a video message; and Arabs Sameer Abdulla Nass, vice president of the Union of Arab Chambers (UAC) and president of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI); Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab Nations; Khalid Al-Esseily, Minister of National Economy of the State of Palestine (over the internet); Youssef Hassan Khalawi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA); and through a video message, also spoke Nevine Gamea, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Egypt; Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Trade and Industry of Morocco; and Yousef Alshamali, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of Jordan.

The Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries is held by the ABCC in partnership with the Union of Arab Chambers (UAC), supported by the League of Arab States, and sponsored by Travel Plus, Brazil Trade, and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), Fambras Halal, Embraer, Itaipu Technology Park, Pantanal Trading, Embratur, Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD), Cdial Halal, Modern Living, BRF, Egyzone/Am Development, Antika Openet/BV, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Egyptian Financial & Industrial Company (EFIC), Suez Company for Fertilizer Production (SCFP), Boa Esperança Agriculture Cooperative (CAPEBE), Prima Foods, and Afrinvest.

Here's more on the Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries .

Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro

The post Brazil seeks cooperation with Arabs in fertilizer sector appeared first on Agência de Notícias Brasil-Árabe .

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