In a significant move to enhance trade relations, a business delegation from Brazil, organized by the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), embarked on a mission to Tunisia and Morocco last week. The primary focus of this initiative was to expand trade negotiations into new sectors while fostering discussions surrounding partnerships and investment opportunities. Comprising six diverse companies, the delegation's itinerary was packed with seminars, visits to trade fairs, ports, chambers of commerce, local development agencies, and crucial one-on-one meetings between Brazilian business representatives and local enterprises.
The delegation featured notable Brazilian companies including Pegada, known for its footwear, Embelleze in the cosmetics sector, Grupo Intelli specializing in electrical products, Agroexport from the agribusiness field, the law firm Manuel e Vitta, and Verano Vitivinícola Tropical, a winery. Leading the delegation was ABCC President William Adib Dib Jr., accompanied by Institutional Relations Director Fernanda Baltazar and Egypt Office Director Michael Gamal Kaddes.
According to Dib, the business leaders were pleasantly surprised by the substantial changes that have occurred in the region over the past decade, which have significantly increased foreign investment. He expressed satisfaction with the successful outcomes of the B2B meetings and the warm hospitality extended by local chambers of commerce and business partners. “It was a very fruitful mission,” he stated.
The mission commenced in Tunis, Tunisia's capital, from June 6 to 9, featuring a program organized in collaboration with the UTICA commerce union and the Export Promotion Center of Tunisia (CEPEX). The delegation received a warm welcome from UTICA's chief Samir Majoul during a dinner attended by CEPEX representatives and local business leaders, providing an ideal platform for initiating discussions. The Tunisian segment of the agenda included a seminar at the UTICA headquarters, attendance at the International Food Show Africa (IFSA), bilateral meetings between Brazilian and Tunisian companies, as well as visits to cultural and historical sites, underscoring the importance of tourism in Tunisia's economy.
During this mission, Dib had the opportunity to engage with key Tunisian ministers, including the Trade and Export Development Minister Samir Abid, Tourism Minister Sofiane Tekaya, and the Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti. The discussions highlighted the positive feedback regarding the participation of the Tunisian delegation at the APAS Show food trade fair in São Paulo held in May, which was seen as a strategic opportunity for the Brazilian market.
The talks with Minister Abid included plans to continue initiatives aimed at strengthening ties with the Brazilian market. This included the formation of a working group, the participation of a Tunisian delegation at the upcoming Economic Forum Brazil & Arab Countries scheduled for August 25 in São Paulo, and the organization of a Tunisian Week in Brazil planned for November.
Exploring Opportunities in Morocco
Following their engagements in Tunisia, the delegation traveled to Morocco, visiting Rabat, Casablanca, and Tangier from June 10 to 13. A noteworthy highlight from this segment was the signing of a partnership agreement between ABCC President Dib and Ali Seddiki, the director-general of the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), aimed at promoting Brazil in Morocco and vice versa.
The Brazilian business representatives participated in seminars and B2B meetings at various chambers of commerce within the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region, Casablanca-Settat, and the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Region. In addition, they engaged with AMDIE specialists to enhance sector-specific knowledge and foster collaboration. The delegation also had productive meetings with the Moroccan employers federation CGEM, attended by Brazil's Honorary Consul in Casablanca, Yana Staykova, and toured the Port of Tangier, receiving a warm reception from Brazil’s ambassador in Rabat, Alexandre Guido Lopes Parola. The Brazilian Embassy in Morocco, along with the Moroccan Embassy in Brazil and AMDIE, provided essential support throughout the mission.
Reflecting on the economic landscape, Baltazar noted a significant leap in development within both Morocco and Tunisia, particularly highlighting Morocco's increasing establishment as a market with substantial infrastructure investments and a growing interest in attracting foreign partnerships. “Major events will be held in the country, so it is an expanding market that deserves close attention,” she emphasized.
As reported by anba.com.br.
