The UAE was the biggest importer in the Gulf of goods from Amazonas, the largest state in Brazil, according to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.
The UAE was named among three Arab states – the others being Egypt and Morocco – that were the biggest importers from Amazonas. The chamber did not give a breakdown value-wise nor state what goods specifically each of the three Arab states imported in larger quantities.
Arab countries imported products worth $3.2 million throughout 2014 and $492,000 in Q1 2015.
Imports mainly consisted of motorcycles, but they also included radios and televisions, rectifiers, shaving blades, stamping press, and mobile telephony terminals.
On the other hand, the Brazilian state imported from the Arab region $17 million worth of products during the last year and $7.8 million during Q1 2015. It imported mainly from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and the UAE.
The chamber announced that a high-profile Arab delegation recently went on a diplomatic mission to Amazonas, the largest state in Brazil, to explore trade and investment opportunities between the Brazilian state and their region. The delegates comprised diplomats from 15 Arab countries and the Arab League and were hosted by the Governor of Amazonas, José Melo de Oliveira. The delegation also met Arthur Virgilio Neto, the Mayor of Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, during their visit.
The highlights of the visit were a meeting with local businessmen from the Federation of Industries of the State of Amazonas (FIEAM) and a seminar on the investment and business options between Manaus and the Arab nations that took place at FIEAM’s headquarters. Amazonas is a very resourceful state with unexplored wealth and offers the right opportunities for the Arab region to enhance their business ties with Brazil.
Dr Michel Alaby, secretary general and CEO, Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, said the diplomatic mission from Arab countries to the Brazilian state of Amazonas was facilitated by the chamber in the belief that such strategic visits are highly effective in building bridges and consolidating bilateral ties between the two regions.
“We are confident that after the success of the visit, investment at various levels will continue to grow and seek new possibilities of trade between Brazil and the Arab region. Brazil remains an active business partner for the Arab nations with $13.4 billion worth of exports to the region, comprising primarily food and commodities and $11.4 billion of imports of mainly oil and oil products and fertilisers during the last year.”
