Masdar, the Abu Dhabi-based sustainable projects company, recently proposed a partnership with the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce aimed at the entry of companies that offer sustainable construction products into the local market.

Nicholas Cary-Brown, sustainability manager for Masdar, made the offer during a visit of members of the Arab Chamber board and executives from the Federation of Industries of the State of Parana (FIEP), the Parana State Civil Construction Industry Union (Sinduscon-PR) and the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina (Fiesc) to Masdar City, the sustainable city built by Masdar in Abu Dhabi.

"We could enter into a partnership with the Arab Chamber, whereby the Chamber could let Brazilian enterprises know which [sustainable] products best suit our local construction industry. In return, Masdar could instruct them on how best to place their products here," Cary-Brown said.

He said these enterprises could even set up operations locally at Masdar's own free zone, and mentioned the possibility of Brazilian companies taking part in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The event happens in January and awards prizes to the best initiatives and solutions in sustainable development. It also enables companies, people and organizations in the industry to engage in networking.

The Arab Chamber president, Marcelo Sallum, approved Cary-Brown's proposal. "It is in the interest of Brazilian companies to showcase their creations and products in our market, as well as to gain access to what is being done in other countries," he said.

Masdar promotes sustainable projects in partnership with the governments of developing countries. Mauritania, in Africa, Tonga, in Oceania, and Afghanistan, in Asia, are some of the countries that have been targeted by projects by Masdar, which belongs to Abu Dhabi's sovereign fund Mubadala.

During the visit, Masdar's senior analyst for corporate relations, Saeed Albudoor, listed some of the measures taken in building the sustainable city to minimize its environmental impact, including using recycled material, streamlining the use of paint, maximizing air circulation, and building narrow streets to take advantage of natural shadows.

The executives affiliated with Fiesc, Sinduscon-PR and Fiep are in the United Arab Emirates to attend the Middle East's leading construction industry exhibition, which opened yesterday (November 17) in Dubai. They are also visiting construction sites and local companies.