GCC exports to Brazil during 2011 totalled $4.255 billion, with the UAE alone accounting for $2.169 billion, while exports from Brazil to Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE reached $7.862 billion.

In light of this, the Brazilian Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Commerce and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) will lead a delegation of 47 Brazilian companies who will explore trade and investment opportunities with their counterparts from the GCC during an upcoming meeting in Dubai.

The Brazilian Trade Mission to Middle East will be held on February 15 and 16 at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel in Dubai.

The event will include a seminar titled “Invest In Brazil”, where 15 Brazilian private companies and governmental institutions will present projects in the infrastructure (ports, railroads, energy) and real estate (retail, hotels, logistics) sectors before an audience of potential co-investors and partners.

The delegation will also be visiting the headquarters of top potential investors in the UAE. Moreover, six major companies from Brazil’s civil construction sector will also be part of the mission.

The exploratory talks with GCC countries is part of Brazil’s strategy to strengthen its trade relations across the Middle East region, which accounted for $12.276 billion in exports and up to $6,141 billion in imports from Brazil.

Organized by Apex-Brasil in cooperation with IFP Emirates, the trade mission will gather Brazilian companies from the food, beverages and agribusiness; machinery and equipment; and house and civil construction industries to engage in business roundtables with potential local buyers from the UAE and across the GCC.

Mauricio Borges, president of Apex-Brasil, said that the Middle East has always been a lucrative destination for Brazilian products and services, and a major source of investors and investment opportunities for Brazilian entrepreneurs.

“Moreover, with its dynamic economy and strong focus on foreign trade relations, it is clear that the UAE as well as the rest of the GCC will serve as an excellent launch pad to strengthen trade activities between Brazil and the entire Middle East region,” Borges said.

“Apex-Brasil has therefore organised ‘Invest Brazil’ to create a dedicated networking avenue for corporate organisations, investors, government institutions and trade organizations from Brazil and the GCC to explore new opportunities for economic cooperation.”

“Moreover, Brazil has been teeming with investment possibilities in the field of infrastructure and real estate development,” Borges continued.

“UAE and GCC investors can therefore take advantage of the favourable investment climate in Brazil to further diversify their investment portfolio and boost their revenue potential. ‘Invest Brazil’ will bring together representatives from governmental institutions and leading private companies in Brazil to provide a more detailed and insightful presentation of the new investment possibilities that have emerged in Brazil,” added Borges. – TradeArabia News Service