Dubai Chamber hosts Brazilian business delegation
Over 40 Minas Gerais companies are in town to explore business opportunities on either side
Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais (FIEMG), organised a trade delegation of leading Brazilian companies from the state of Minas Gerais with the aim of strengthening economic relations between the Brazilian state and Dubai.
The day-long business networking event headed by HE Antônio Augusto Junho Anastasia, Deputy Governor of the State of Minas Gerais, and Robson Braga de Andrade, President of the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais - FIEMG included a welcome speech by HE Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair – the newly-appointed Chairman of Dubai Chamber.
Gilman Viana Rodrigues, State Secretary for Agriculture, Animal Farming and Supplies and José Carlos Carvalho, State Secretary for Environment and Sustainable Development and a number of officials and company representatives from Minas Gerais also accompanied the delegation to facilitate networking between businesses specialising in furniture, fashion goods (textile, clothing, shoes, swim wear), construction, food industry, water purifier, and electrical and mechanical machinery.
The strength of Minas Gerais´ state lies in its sustainable economical growth which represents 10% of Brazil's economy, population and exports and also due to the state's strategic position - in the center of the most developed region in Brazi - close to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília.
Said Al Ghurair, “Dubai’s non-oil foreign trade with Brazil reached over AED 5 billion ($1.3 billion) in 2007, as there are 15 Brazilian companies operating in Dubai and registered with Dubai Chamber. The visit of the Deputy Governor of the State of Minas Gerais today and our business matching with his delegation will hopefully help increase the volume of our bilateral trade and attract more Brazilian companies to the region, benefiting from cooperation with the Dubai-based Brazilian Business Centre.
“At this juncture, we cannot forget our mutual coordination with the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in strengthening the relations of its members with their counterparts in Dubai. Today’s event provides a good opportunity to revive the bilateral relations between Dubai Chamber and the Arab-Brazilian Chamber with whom we signed an Agreement of Cooperation in 1997 and has since been enjoying a very good relationship,” added Al Ghurair.
“Our purpose is to strengthen ties between the two sides and identify business opportunities between Dubai and Minas Gerais-based companies,” said Mr. Robson Braga de Andrade, President, Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais- FIEMG. “Throughout its economic history, Minas Gerais has converted itself into a preferred target for the foreign investor and we are delighted to be leading the first trade delegation from the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais in Dubai. Capital from all over the world has arrived in Minas Gerais with great regularity and contributed significantly to the vitality of the state’s economy.”
“We believe today’s networking event will help form long standing relationships between companies and businessmen from Dubai and Mina Gerais,” added Robson Braga.
Leading Dubai companies EMAAR, JAFZA, Nakheel and DP World gave individual presentations at the business matching event.
