Brazil is making significant strides to bolster its economic growth and international trade, particularly with Arab nations, as evidenced by its prominent participation at the Gulf Food Exhibition held at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event, which concluded on February 21, 2023, was instrumental for Brazilian businesses, marking their growing importance as key suppliers to global clients.
Approximately 130 Brazilian companies showcased their products at the exhibition, catching the attention of international buyers. A standout was Dassoler Agronegócios, represented by manager Rodrigo Espisoto, who mentioned, "We had the opportunity to connect with many strategic customers and establish business deals." The firm, recognized for its leadership in exporting legumes and seeds, expressed excitement about the prospects of strengthening their foothold in the Arab market.
Espisoto highlighted the burgeoning interest from Arab markets, especially surrounding Brazilian sweet sesame seeds, which they are uniquely certified to provide. This certification, he noted, enhances their competitiveness and opens commercial opportunities throughout the region.
Another Brazilian company making waves at the exhibition was Tangará Foods, which operates primarily within the dairy sector. Fabrício Quintanilla, the firm's external trade official, stated, "It has been amazing," as he reflected on successfully negotiating sales of powdered dairy products to potential clients from Senegal and Chad. He also noted interest from Iranian and Pakistani customers, indicating Brazil's untapped potential for exporting dairy to these countries.
The visit from Muhammad Murad, the Secretary-General and Vice President of international relations at the Arab-Brazilian Chamber, underscored the positive reception of Brazilian participation at the exhibition. He affirmed the satisfaction expressed by Brazilian exhibitors about their engagements and dealings at the event.
Brazil's Ambassador to the UAE, Sidney Leon Romero, commended this year's participation as evidence of productive collaboration between Brazil's public and private sectors. At the exhibition, the energy was palpable, with many Brazilian firms taking advantage of the platform to make strategic connections.
Rafael Solimio, director of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce based in Dubai, characterized the Gulf Food Exhibition as exceedingly beneficial for Brazil amid the shifting global trade landscapes. He commented, "The current global scenario has contributed to attracting new clients to Brazilian food companies," emphasizing the growing loyalty of Gulf entrepreneur to their Brazilian partners.
Looking beyond individual sales, plans are underway for Brazil to establish a logistics zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone, aimed at transforming trade dynamics not only with Egypt but across the broader Arab and African markets. This initiative was highlighted by Michael Jamal, the regional manager of the chamber, who expressed the logistics zone as pivotal for providing urgent needs to Arab and African nations.
According to Jamal, this logistics center will enable the sustainable supply of Brazilian products like sugar, corn, soybeans, and sesame, addressing the growing demand from neighboring countries. Historically, the Arab region has relied heavily on Sudan for sesame supplies; with recent challenges there, Brazil emerges as the ideal alternative supplier.
Bernardo Henrique, Brazil’s Deputy Ambassador to Egypt, also emphasized the importance of existing free trade agreements between Brazil and Egypt, which have yet to be fully capitalized since they were enacted in 2017. The focus, he suggested, should likely be on high-value-added products like corn and soybeans to maximize benefits.
He confirmed the Brazilian government’s commitment to enhancing economic, commercial, and investment relationships with Egypt and declared, "The Brazilian Embassy will provide all political and technical support to make this project successful," stressing the necessity of collaborative meetings to shape its implementation.
On the economic front, Brazil recently reported fluctuations in inflation rates, with February’s figures indicating rising consumer prices at 1.23% on the month. While this is the most considerable increase since 2022, it did come under economists’ expectations, providing President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva with slight relief amid mounting criticism over his economic management.
Overall, these developments reflect Brazil's confidence and proactive approach to expand its economic footprint globally, particularly through partnerships with nations across the Arab world. With increasing trade dialogues and exhibitions laying the groundwork, Brazil is positioning itself as not just a participant on the world stage but as a pivotal player for the future of trade and economic cooperation.