Arab-Brazilian Chamber Builds Ties In Rio

(MENAFN- Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo – Leaders of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC ) met with private sector representatives and diplomats in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (24) to engage the state in relations with Arab countries. Due to oil, Rio de Janeiro ranks as the second-largest importer of Arab products in Brazil but only 12^th in exports to the region, according to data compiled by the ABCC's Market Intelligence department.

One of the meetings of the ABCC's Vice President of International Relations & Secretary-General, Mohamad Orra Mourad, and Director of Institutional Relations, Fernanda Baltazar, took place at the Rio de Janeiro industry group Firjan, with which the institution already has a partnership. Hosted by Firjan's International Relations Council President, Rodrigo Santiago Freitas, the ABCC outlined its schedule for the rest of the year to explore new joint initiatives.

“The idea is that whenever new Arab delegations come to Brazil, we also take them to other states and not focus solely on São Paulo,” Mourad said, referring to one of the topics discussed. He also mentioned a proposal for the ABCC and Firjan to use each other's facilities in each state for activities. The ABCC is headquartered in São Paulo, with offices in Itajaí and Brasília.

Mourad and Baltazar were also received at the miner Vale.“Our trade in minerals with Arab countries is strong,” Mourad said. According to the Secretary-General, beef, sugar, and iron ore are always at the top of Brazil's export basket to the Arab market.“Vale has been present in Oman for several years, the only Brazilian mining company with such a presence there, and has recently opened an office in Dubai,” Mourad added.

According to Baltazar, the purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the relationship with Vale and offer the ABCC's support for the company's potential initiatives in the Arab market.“We understand that the mining sector is highly strategic when it comes to Arab countries,” the director said, recalling that last year Saudi Arabia's Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Ibrahim Alkhorayef, visited Brazil and met with Mourad.

The two ABCC representatives also met with the new consuls of Arab countries in Rio de Janeiro, Joe Turk from Lebanon and Iman Elbanhawy from Egypt, who have recently taken up their posts. These are the only two Arab country consulates in Rio de Janeiro, and the ABCC used the new diplomats' arrival to present its services and offer partnership.

From January to August this year, Rio de Janeiro received USD 1.2 billion worth of imports of Arab products, out of a total of USD 6.4 billion imported by Brazil as a whole.“Rio is the heart of Brazil's oil industry,” Mourad said, referring to the state's importance in Brazil's relations with Arab countries. He noted that the city hosted major international events, such as the G20 Summit in 2024 and this year's BRICS Summit, both attended by leaders from Arab countries.

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Translated by Guilherme Miranda

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