Brazil has taken significant steps to strengthen its agricultural ties with North African nations, conducting a mission to Egypt and Morocco from April 7 to 10, 2025. This initiative, led by Marcel Moreira, the Deputy Secretary of Commerce and International Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, aimed to enhance dialogue on sanitary matters, foster technical cooperation, and promote Brazilian agribusiness products in these key markets.
The mission was supported by Brazilian agricultural attachés, Ellen Laurindo in Morocco and Rafael Mohana in Egypt, who played crucial roles in facilitating discussions and engagements with local authorities. In Morocco, the focus was primarily on institutional engagement with sanitary authorities, commercial promotion of Brazilian products, and technical cooperation. This included a noteworthy meeting with Abdellah Janati, Director General of Morocco’s National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), where Moreira expressed appreciation for the recent opening of the Moroccan market to Brazilian beef offal. This milestone marked the 346th market opening since the beginning of the current Brazilian administration.
To further promote Brazilian beef, the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC) organized a "Brazilian Beef Dinner" in partnership with the Brazilian Embassy in Rabat. This event was designed to showcase the quality of Brazilian beef while fostering connections between local authorities, business leaders, and representatives from the agri-food sector.
The second leg of the mission took place in Egypt, where Moreira met with senior officials, including the Acting Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Moustafa El Sayyad. Discussions centered around the impressive growth of Brazilian agricultural exports to Egypt, which totaled USD 3.3 billion and over 8.5 million tons of agribusiness products in 2024. This remarkable growth has solidified Egypt’s status as Brazil’s top agricultural trading partner in Africa.
During the meetings, Brazilian representatives highlighted the mutual trust that has developed over the years, which has facilitated multiple market openings and the recognition of Brazil’s agricultural defense system through the Equivalence Agreement (pre-listing). Egyptian authorities expressed a keen interest in further strengthening this partnership, particularly in advancing electronic certification for animal-based products and exploring opportunities to open the market to new items.
The mission concluded with another edition of the "Brazilian Beef Dinner" held in Cairo, mirroring the successful event in Morocco. This gathering served as a platform for connecting authorities and business leaders around Brazilian beef in a market that values quality, sanitary safety, and long-term trade relationships.
Overall, this mission reflects Brazil’s strategic efforts to build lasting alliances with key Arab countries, combining strong diplomatic ties, technical cooperation, and a solid commercial presence. Such initiatives are crucial in supporting global food security, as Brazil seeks to position itself as a reliable partner in agricultural trade.
As Brazil continues to expand its agricultural agenda in North Africa, the focus remains on enhancing sanitary discussions and technical cooperation, paving the way for further growth in agricultural exports and strengthening Brazil’s presence in the international market.
The successful outcomes of this mission are expected to resonate positively within Brazil’s agricultural sector, as the country aims to leverage its strengths in agribusiness to foster deeper ties with emerging markets.
In summary, Brazil’s recent mission to Egypt and Morocco signifies a robust commitment to enhancing agricultural trade relationships, promoting Brazilian products, and ensuring that sanitary standards meet the expectations of both markets. As these discussions continue, the potential for increased exports and stronger partnerships remains high, highlighting the importance of such diplomatic engagements in today’s global economy.
