Let’s open with chiasma-type observation by Minister of Strategic Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil Flávio Rocha during his recent visit to Egypt.
“Egypt can be Brazil’s gateway to the African market and Brazil can be Egypt’s gateway to Latin America.”
Successive visits by Brazilian officials to Egypt indeed symbolise the resolve of both countries to open fresh horizons for co-operation.
Brazil has been refining its focus on the Arab countries , Rocha is scheduled to visit nine countries , includingMorroco, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Iraq and Saudi Arabia .In press conference, Rocha stressed that the visit comes within the framework of his country’s interest in strengthening joint cooperation with Arab countries and raising the rates of trade exchange to reach 40 billion dollars by the end of this year, compared to 24 billion dollars in 2021.
Solar energy, furniture manufacture, telecommunications and IT, and agriculture are promising areas of co-operation with Egypt, Rocha said.
According to the minister, there is an area ripe for joint projects in desalination and Brazil’s 8,000 kilometres of coastline should prompt cost-effective action to keep agriculture and households going.
Rocha told the Egyptian Mail that geopolitical change will not hamper co-operation agreements between the two countries or MERCOSUR.
“There are no geopolitical problems between Brazil and neighbouring countries and Latin America in general. And definitely, there are no problems with Egypt.”
“As there is trust between the two countries, more investments and trade exchange are expected,” he added.
Egypt can grow the foods enjoyed in Brazil, and the latter can export the fertilisers needed in the former.
Such are the promising opportunities for co-operation with the Egyptian side food security, the minister said.
Rocha announced that direct flights between Cairo and Sao Paulo will start soon, which will boost trade, investment and tourism.
The invitation of Egyptian investment in Brazil is open, he said, pointing out that his country’s government is drafting laws to make procedures easier for Brazilian and foreign companies.
Rocha also held talks with Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) Chairman Abdel Moneim el-Terras in the presence of Marcos Degaut, Defence Products secretary at Brazil’s Defence Ministry to look into localising digital technologies in military and defence industries. The outcome of the talks was a memorandum of understanding (MoU). El-Terras highlighted the importance of investing in robust ties between both countries for new co-operation prospects in industry in line with the 4th Industrial Revolution.
During a tour of the AOI Products Exhibition, Rocha described AOI as the “leading industrial base in Egypt, and one of the top industrial entities in Africa and the Arab world”.
Rocha also encouraged major Brazilian companies to invest in Egypt’s development projects, notably the New Administrative Capital.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli and Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers Khaled Hanafi met with Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) Chairman Osmar Chohfi to discuss the establishment of a Brazilian industrial zone in Egypt for automobile components and textiles for export.
