Abdullah II asserted that even though this is his first visit to Brazil, he does not feel that if he is in an unknown place, as the country is internationally renowned in several areas, such as diplomacy, business and sports.

"Brazil provides an example of regional cooperation and peaceful coexistence. Its multicultural society is an example. Its Arab community is the largest in Latin America and one of the largest in the world. This conveys a message to my region," he stated.

Lula had said earlier that the Arab and Jewish communities sustain friendly relations in Brazil, and that he hopes this coexistence is reflected around the world one day. During a meeting behind closed doors of the two heads of state at Planalto Palace, the seat of the Brazilian government, the main topic was the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis, according to diplomatic sources that accompanied the meeting.

The two government representatives concluded that the country should play a more active role in negotiations, precisely due to its peaceful stance in the international realm, its championing of cooperation between developing countries, and the multi-racial and multi-ethnic features of its population.

In his address, the king underscored the fact that Brazil has always stood up for the rights of the Palestinian people. Abdullah II asserted that Jordan "ascribes great value to the partnership with Brazil" and praised the role of the Brazilian president in the first Summit of South American and Arab Countries (Aspa), held in Brasí­lia in 2005.

Along the same lines, Lula claimed that the Jordanian king is admired as the leader of the main efforts for peace in the Middle East. "His dedication is a source of inspiration to all of those who believe in peace," said the president. "His coming to Brazil strengthens a political dialogue that cannot be postponed, between two countries committed to a future of peace and well-being in the Middle East," he stated.

The president also said that Brazil wants to count on Jordan as a "privileged interlocutor" in its quest for partners in the Arab world. He stated that in the next Aspa Summit, to be held in Doha, Qatar, in 2009, the two regions are going to take "new steps toward joining forces for a more fair and balanced international scenario."

Lula called attention to the participation of the Jordanian armed forces, which have the fifth largest number of troops in the UN peace mission in Haiti, led by Brazil. He also stated that developing countries can contribute "creatively and with solidarity" to the overcoming of international crises. The president spoke for the fight against hunger and poverty as a means for avoiding conflicts. In the face of the global economic crisis, the president also mentioned the need for reforming international financial organisations.

The luncheon was attended by ministers, politicians, diplomats and civil society representatives, such as the president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce , Antonio Sarkis Jr., and the Foreign Trade vice president at the organization, Salim Shahin.

South American Tour

Before arriving in Brazil, the king was in Chile and Argentina. In a meeting with businessmen in Santiago, he said he hopes the Mercosur and his country may reach free trade, according to information disclosed by Jordanian news agency Petra. Chile is not a natural member of the Mercosur, but has an association agreement with the bloc.

Beside president Michelle Bachelet, Abdullah II said, according to Petra, that he plans to provide "incentives to South-South cooperation in all levels to open new areas for economic development, "collaborating for the development of the countries and for greater quality of life of the people.

On Tuesday, the King traveled to Argentina, where he met president Cristina Kirchner. According to Argentine news agency Télam, Argentina "actively and strongly" sponsored the signing of the framework agreement that resulted in talks between the Mercosur and Jordan.

On Friday, Abdullah II should be in São Paulo, where he is scheduled to open the Brazil-Jordan Business Forum alongside Brazilian authorities and the president at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Antonio Sarkis Jr. The event is organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber and by the Jordan Investment Board (JIB), the investment promotion agency of the Arab country.

"Trade relations between Brazil and Jordan are at their best moment, and the visit of the king represents an opportunity for both economies, which are complementary. For example, Brazil is a strong country in the agricultural sector, and Jordan is a great supplier of fertilizers," said Sarkis.

During the forum there will be a seminar about the economy and investment of Jordan and about the business roundtables. The king should come in the company of a delegation of businessmen in different sectors who are going to sit face-to-face with Brazilian businessmen. Over 400 companies from Brazil have registered to participate in the event.

The Jordanian chambers of Commerce and Industry are going to sign cooperation agreements with the Arab Brazilian Chamber and with the National Confederation of Industries (CNI).

"Stronger action by businessmen is beginning. We are living a moment of growth in bilateral relations and both countries have excellent opportunities for investment in the field of tourism and in other areas," stated Sarkis.

Brazilian exports to Jordan generated US$ 233.2 million between January and September, an increase of 8.4% over the same period last year. Imports of products from the Arab country totaled US$ 10.9 million, growth of 142.6% over the first nine months of 2007.

In São Paulo, queen Rania is going to visit the Apprentice City-School project, which has the support of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

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Al-Bashir was in Brazil for an official tour of the country in preparation of the official visit to Brazil of the king of Jordan, Abdullah II, in October. The minister praised the good performance of the economy of Brazil.

"Brazil has a story of success," said the Arab minister, mentioning the political and economic performance of the country as an example of the fight against inflation. "The success of Brazilian industry is a global reference," said the minister. Al-Bashir stated that Jordan and the Arab world as a whole admire Brazil and added that he knows of the Arab participation in the Brazilian economy and industry.

At the meeting with Arab Brazilian Chamber directors, the minister also received further information about the size of the Brazilian economy. "Brazil is an international creditor. We are a country with strong agricultural talent. With the global food crisis, we may be the largest supplier in the sector," stated Arab Brazilian Chamber president Antonio Sarkis Jr. He told Al-Bashir that the country has the third largest aeronautics industry in the world and factories of over 15 carmakers.

For this reason, Sarkis said he believes that Brazil and the Arab world are at an appropriate moment for investment and partnerships. Jordan, according to minister Al-Bashir, is also living a good phase. He said that the country is proud of its low levels of illiteracy and infant mortality, in comparison to the first world.

"We have an economy of US$ 14 billion, six million inhabitants and per capita income of US$ 2,400," said the Foreign Minister. The foreign debt of the country, which was as high as 200% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the late 80s, is now at 35% of GDP.

Al-Bashir stated that the stock markets of the country have grown and that levels of poverty and unemployment have dropped. The country has inflation, but, according to him, it is fueled by the greater oil and food prices.

"We are living a good to excellent situation in terms of transparency," stated the minister. Al-Bashir spoke about the trade agreements that the country has with Arab countries, the European Union and the United States. "Jordan is an economically open country and guarantees the rights of foreign investors," he informed.

Both Sarkis and Al-Bashir showed interest in greater bilateral investment between Brazil and Jordan. The Foreign Trade vice president at the Chamber, Salim Schahin, said that Brazil needs investment in infrastructure, in ports, for example, and that the Arabs have been seeking investment opportunities. He also recalled that Brazil has a strong energy sector, which may operate in the region.

Other matters discussed at the meeting also included tourism, an area in which the Jordanians and Brazilians want to provide incentives to reciprocal visits. Al-Bashir stated that this sector has been growing significantly in Jordan and pointed out the importance of religious tourism to the country.

"Jordan is proud of its Christian and Islamic heritage," he said. Schahin presented to the minister the Abraham Path Initiative, a tourist route that includes the sites crossed by Abraham in the Middle East. The objective is to show the common origin of monotheistic religions.

Chamber director Adel Auada recalled that the tourist and cultural interest of Brazilians in the region grew significantly after the visit of Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the region, in 2003. The vice president of Foreign Relations at the organization, Helmi Nasr, said to the minister, however, that Brazil still needs greater access to Arab culture. "There are many possibilities for cultural cooperation, not just economic, and the Arab community needs more sources of Arab culture," said Nasr.

Among those participating in the meeting were the Marketing vice president at the Arab Chamber, Rubens Hannun, the organization's secretary general, Michel Alaby, and directors Bechara Ibrahim and Mustapha Abdouni, who is also the honorary consul of Jordan in São Paulo, the future ambassador of Brazil to Amman, Fernando José Marroni de Abreu, and the ambassador of Jordan to Brasí­lia, Ramez Goussous.

During a luncheon in honor of the Foreign Minister, Sarkis pointed out the opportunity that the Chamber in hosting "one of the most important Arab authorities; one who has contributed very much to the closer relations between Brazil and its friendly nation," and the fact that this visit by the minister is preparatory for the king's trip. "These two factors bring great joy to the Arab Chamber, which has been working on bringing Arabs and Brazilians closer together for 50 years," he said.

He also pointed out that authorities in both countries have been showing the political desire for these closer ties, which "should certainly attract more attention of businessmen so that they may learn about and make use of the existing opportunities." "Our trade relations are still small, but they may be much more promising for both of these countries once businessmen's interest is aroused," he declared.

After that, Al-Bashir said that king Abdullah II is interested in strengthening exchange with Brazil in the political, economic and cultural areas. "And the private sector plays an important part in this area," he pointed out.

The minister said that the expansion of relations between Brazil and the Middle East and North Africa and the participation of the Arab Brazilian Chamber in this process reflects the good level of development that the Arab community has reached in the country. He mentioned the dedication of the Arab colony in this respect.

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On Wednesday, July 16, the minister should travel to São Paulo, where he has a visit scheduled to the headquarters of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.

The main objective of the trip is to prepare the visit of the Jordan king, scheduled for October, the first of a Jordanian monarch to the country. "He (Al-Bashir) is going to speak about bilateral relations, the acceleration of the signing of agreements in several areas and especially about the visit of the king," said the ambassador of the Arab country to Brasí­lia, Ramez Goussous.

According to Cláudio Nascimento, head of the Middle East Department at the Itamaraty, the Brazilian Foreign Office, agreements to be signed during the visit of the king to Brazil are being negotiated. The most advanced, according to him, is one in the area of tourism, whose objective is to expand the bilateral flow of tourism.

"We are also trying to make agreements in other areas to enhance the kings visit, so that it may be as broad as possible," said Nascimento.

Agreements are being negotiated in the areas of maritime transport, science and technology and agriculture. Ambassador Goussous believes that there is also interest in the signing of agreements in the economic area and in the energy field, among others. The Mercosur and Jordan are still negotiating a fixed tariff preference agreement.

According to Goussous, with Lula and Amorim, the Foreign Minister should also discuss the situation in the Middle East, especially the conflicts that threaten the region and are discussed worldwide. He is also going to participate in a dinner offered by the Council of Arab Ambassadors to Brazil.

Trade

At the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Al-Bashir is going to discuss the trade aspects of the king's visit to Brazil. According to the organization's president, Antonio Sarkis Jr., the monarch should come accompanied by a delegation of businessmen and the organization of activities in the area should count on the Chamber's participation. "The Chamber is a partner in this event and is going to collaborate organizing the commercial part of the visit," said Sarkis.

In this respect, during the minister's visit, Ibrahim Al Majali, the envoy of the Jordanian Investment Board (JIB), should be in São Paulo. He will not only meet with the Chamber board, but should also meet representatives of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) and the Commercial Promotion Department at the Itamaraty, among other organizations. The JIB plans to promote investment seminars during the monarch's visit.

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The agreement was signed July 1st by the business attaché of the embassy of Jordan in Santiago, Chile, Hazem Al Khatib, and by the ministers of Foreign Relations of the countries of the Mercosur.

On behalf of Brazil, the agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Celso Amorim. According to the director of the Foreign Negotiations department at the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty), Evando Didonet, who participated in the summit, the document already states that the final agreement with Jordan will be for free trade.

This means that there will be zero tariffs for import and export between both regions and that practically the whole trade basket should be included. In the case of a tariff preference agreement, the number of products included is lower.

Didonet stated that the intention is to begin talks during the temporary Brazilian presidency of the Mercosur, which began in the last summit and should go on up to the next summit, in December this year. The objective is to organize at least one more meeting before that date.

The initiative of establishing an agreement with the Mercosur came from Jordan. The country showed interest through a request made to the secretariat of the South American bloc, at the end of last year, when the group was presided by Uruguay.

After the final agreement is signed, it should boost trade between the countries of the Mercosur and Jordan. Brazilian exports to the country are already on the rise. Between January and May this year, Brazil sold US$ 111.9 million to Jordan. There was expansion of 7.4% over the same months in 2007.

The main products exported by Brazil to the Arab country were meats, sugar, aluminum and coffee. Jordan, in turn, had a 78% reduction in sales to Brazil in the same period, which fell to US$ 536,000 and involved mainly aluminum, garments and inorganic chemical products.

Jordan is in the Middle East and has around six million inhabitants. The country has a large part of its economy – 86.2% – connected to the service sector. Industry answers to 10.3% of the Gross Domestic Product and agriculture to 3.5%.

The local industry produces garments, phosphates, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, cement, potassium, chemical products and also refines oil. In agriculture, production involves foods like tomatoes, fruit, cucumber and olives. The country also produces chicken and lamb.

Anba

The Brazil in the Reconstruction of Iraq fair, which ended Wednesday, September 14,in the city of Amman, Jordan, generated US$ 244.5 million worth of business.

Buyers from 20 countries, including Kuwait, Syria, the Arab Emirates, Libya, and Iraq, participated in the event, which was organized by the Export and Investments Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).

Of the 14 Brazilian business sectors present at the fair, the ones that attracted the greatest interest, according to the Apex, were food, construction material, and medical and hospital equipment.

Data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade show that, in 1985, trade between Brazil and Iraq attained US$ 2.4 billion, comprising US$ 630 million in Brazilian exports and US$ 1.799 billion in Iraqi exports to Brazil.

In 2004 trade between the two countries was down to US$ 534 million: US$ 473 million in Iraqi sales to Brazil and US$ 61 million in Brazilian exports to Iraq.

Through August of this year, the main Brazilian products exported to Iraq in terms of value were cane and beet sugar, frozen chicken, vehicle chassis with diesel motors, and cheese. The predominant Iraqi export to Brazil is petroleum.

ABr

The head of the trade mission from five Arab countries which is in São Paulo to negotiate with Brazilian companies, Thabet A. Taher, supported February 14, during the seminar that opened the business roundtables organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), the creation of trade agreements between the Arab and South American nations in an effort to amplify the economic relations between the two regions.

“Two years ago Jordan signed a deal with the United States. In this period exports to the USA increased from about US$ 200 million to US$ 1 billion in 2004. The treaty worked well. Then why not have similar agreements with the countries in South America?” he said after the seminar.

Taher, who is the former minister of Mines and Energy in Jordan and is currently the vice president of the Jordanian Businessmen Association and the secretary general of the Federation of Arab Businessmen, recalled that two Arab nations, Egypt and Morocco, are already negotiating tariff preference agreements with the Mercosur – bloc formed by Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay -, and suggested that Jordan start a similar process with Brazil. “It would be a first step,” he stated.

With this in mind, Taher suggested that the Federation of Arab Businessmen and the CCAB create an economic cooperation council. The federation represents 11 associations of businessmen from 10 Arab countries.

“With this council we could develop the cooperation between Brazil and the Arab world as a whole, not only on a single country level,” he stated. For him, the great Arab community living in Brazil can also serve as a “bridge” to strengthen the relationships.

The president of the CCAB, Antonio Sarkis Jr., said the mission of businessmen from Jordan, Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine that is visiting São Paulo may represent a first step in the creation of this council.

Summit

Taher also said that the summit for the Arab and South American heads of state, which will take place in May in Brasí­lia, capital city of Brazil, should give impulse to the economic relations between the two regions. Sarkis added that the CCAB plans on organizing an event in São Paulo for the businessmen who will participate in the authorities’ delegations.

“We believe that together with the delegations many Arab businessmen will come. Therefore we are planning an event together with the Arab Ambassadors’ Council in Brazil. We will meet with the council, in Brasí­lia, to structure the event,” stated the president of the CCAB.

Competitive Brazil

Sarkis presented, to an audience of about 200 Arab and Brazilian entrepreneurs at the Renaissance Hotel, in São Paulo, a picture of the Brazilian economy.

“Brazil currently represents an excellent opportunity, for the competitive and diversified export basket, varying from foods to manufactured goods,” he said.

“In 2004, the Brazilian economy grew about 5%, a result greatly owed to exports, which increased 32% in relation to 2003,” he highlighted.

The president of the CCAB recalled that the global trade between Brazil and the Arab countries passed US$ 8.1 billion in 2004 and stated that this exchange could well pass US$ 10 billion.

Taher said that the Arab countries may find in Brazil the same products they buy from the developed countries, such as the United States and Canada.

“There is space to develop economic relations between Brazil and the Arab countries,” added the general director of the Federation of Arab Businessmen, Ali Yousef.

The secretary general of the CCAB, Michel Alaby, in his turn, supported partnerships between the businessmen. “A single hand cannot clap. The partnership makes the two hands clap,” he said.

Investments

As well as trade, Taher also promoted joint investments between Brazilian and Arab countries. Talking specifically about Jordan, he said his country offers a good regulatory environment and opportunities in the fields of mining, fertilizers, pharmaceutical industry, agribusiness, services, information technology and tourism.

“I wish to make an invitation to the Brazilian entrepreneurs to go to Jordan and see what can be done. There are good opportunities,” he said. “The country is geographically well located and can be used as a distribution center for the countries in Asia and nations in the region, such as Iraq,” he stated.

The Jordanian ambassador in Brasí­lia, Faris Mufti, added that his country has on the shores of the River Jordan an industrial district where the factories installed may export to the United States without paying taxes, as long as part of the inputs used are imported from Israel, since the deal for the duty-free zone involves the three countries.

“The Chinese have invested there. If they did it, why can’t the Brazilians do it?” he asked. The majority of the factories installed in the region, according to him, are of the textile sector.

Translated by Silvia Lindsey
ANBA ”“ Brazil-Arab News Agency

Businessmen from five Arab countries are  participating since yesterday, in São Paulo, the largest business center in South America, in business roundtables with Brazilian companies. This is one of the most important Arab trade delegations ever to come to Brazil.

The group includes representatives from Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen and Lebanon, interested mainly in buying. The meetings, organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (CCAB), will take place at Renaissance hotel, close to the central region of the city.

“This is a large delegation, and it may be seen as a glimpse into the summit between Arab and South American countries,” stated CCAB president Antonio Sarkis Jr., referring to the meeting between heads of state of countries in both regions, to take place in Brazilian capital Brasí­lia in May this year.

“It shows the interest in Brazil that has been generated among the Arab countries,” he added.

In the evaluation of the dean of the Arab Country Ambassador’s Council and Palestinian ambassador in Brasí­lia, Musa Odeh, the mission represents an “important step” before the summit, as the main matters to be covered at the event in Brasí­lia will be closer economic ties.

“The presence in this delegation of businessmen from various countries is going to provide incentives to the travel of others and will make greater trade possible,” he said.

To Sarkis, the Arab businessmen arrive in São Paulo “with a desire for products.” “They know that Brazil is currently an excellent opportunity due to the competitiveness of its products, both agricultural and manufactured,” he explained.

More than simply buying and selling products, Odeh believes that a mission like this one may open space for reciprocal investment. “It is important that Arab businessmen start investing in Brazil and that Brazilian businessmen start investing in the Arab countries,” declared the ambassador.

Sectors

In all, 29 companies and Arab institutions are going to be represented in the delegation. They are interested in business in various sectors, like electric equipment, vehicles, auto parts, machinery and equipment, medical equipment, garments, ornamental stones, construction material, paper products, cleaning material, food in general, agricultural commodities and wood, among others.

According to the secretary general of the CCAB, Michel Alaby, the Jordanian businessmen, the largest number on the delegation, are mainly interested in industrialized products, such as auto parts and canned food.

The Jordanians also want to sell raw materials for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, products that represent two important sectors for the country economy.

The Iraqi and Palestinian businessmen, in turn, according to Alaby, are arriving in Brazil mainly seeking basic products, but they are also after products for use in civil construction, among them material and equipment for construction in general, electric components, water pipes and equipment for refrigeration.

This is the case, for example, of Sadoon Saoud, manager of Karm Contracting, from Iraq. He is interested in purchasing machinery and equipment for the construction industry, among them concrete mixers and pumps.

“Our forecast is to find good routes for cooperation for the reconstruction of our country,” he said by email. Saoud is also after machinery for production of steel pipes. “There are good companies in Brazil and possibilities for business with them,” he added.

Businessmen from Yemen, in turn, are more interested in the purchase of agricultural commodities and food products. With regard to the Lebanese, according to Alaby, they are after suppliers of sugar and equipment for the refining of the product, as there is interest in the construction of a new sugar refinery in the country.

Yesterday, before the business roundtables, there was a seminar about business opportunities, also at Renaissance hotel. The speakers included Sarkis Jr., Alaby and Mohammad Thabet A. Taher, former Jordanian minister of Industry and Trade.

Today, representatives from the delegation also have meetings scheduled for the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp) and with the state secretary of Science, Technology, Economic Development and Tourism, João Carlos Meirelles.

Translated by Mark Ament
ANBA ”“ Brazil-Arab News Agency