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By Usmar Shehfi
O Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) will turn 71 on July 2, 2023, changing and innovative. As the current president of the Foundation, I am proud to say that ABCC, created in 1952 to bring Arabs and Brazilians closer together through business and professional cooperation, continues to fulfill its mission in new and innovative ways.
In the 1950s, when bilateral trade between Brazil and the Arabs had just begun, ABCC was formed by immigrants and descendants of Arabs, including my own family. Currently, we are continuing this initiative by establishing stronger and more advanced trade relations with the Arabs.
The beginning of this 70-year history was a bold act for the time. Taking Brazilian businessmen on trade delegations to the Arab world was a major achievement, as were Brazilian companies to fairs in the eastern world. It didn’t take long for the ABCC to become the reference for this trade route for local traders and officials.
During these decades, ABCC has seen numerous meetings with Arab and Brazilian officials, official delegations, participation in fairs, business missions, companies bringing together Arabs and Brazilians, and our presence throughout Brazil and the Arab world. Discuss the importance and strength of this relationship.
Brazil and the Arab world are strategically integrated, which is why we have re-established ourselves as ABCC. Our history proves this unity. I would like to highlight as an example that the Arab countries are efficient producers of fertilizers, while Brazil is a force in agriculture and livestock. The presence of Arab fertilizers here means more food for the world, and Brazil is an important partner for food security in the Arab world.
The last few years have shown many examples of where Brazil and Arab countries meet. Arab investment affected our beef production. We received donations due to disasters in some Arab countries. We received Arab donations for social projects in Brazil. We bring our farming experience. Our government has met similar causes at the G-20, the United Nations and elsewhere. Many agreements have reduced tariffs and freed up trade to better access products from one place to another as well as encourage mutual investment.
As a great supporter and driver of this relationship, ABCC has adapted and reinvented itself for this new era that requires greater agility in negotiations, lower costs, endless partnerships and more advanced and safer goods, built on the principles of ethics and sustainability. is . We have created a groundbreaking platform, Ellos, which digitizes the trading process using blockchain technology, reducing time and costs. Exports to Jordan have already dried up, and trade with Egypt and other Arab countries will soon follow.
We are committed to helping companies promote business, but now we do it online too. We created an innovation lab called ABCC Lab that helps us bring Brazilian and Arab ecosystems closer together and bring Brazilian startups to the MENA region. We opened offices in the United Arab Emirates and Egypt and soon we will open one in Saudi Arabia, bridging the gap for Arab and Brazilian companies to come closer.
In cooperation with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), we are implementing the Halal Brazil project, which aims to supply Brazilian food companies to Islamic countries, bring more profits and opportunities to our country, and provide products to Muslim countries. They demand. Halal production means production with sustainability and quality standards.
These are some of our recent initiatives for a more efficient and productive business. We also work on other fronts such as sports cooperation, cultural exchange, promotion of immigration and strengthening of relations between South American countries and Arab countries.
A changing world is forcing societies to set new priorities and ABCC is looking for new ways to fulfill its mission. An example of this is our presence at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP27 in Egypt, which is part of our commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles. So at 71, we’re here for more challenges. A big thank you to everyone who believed in our room and our mission partners.
Osmar Shehfi is a diplomat and president of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
