The state of São Paulo in Brazil today opened a representative office in Dubai, aimed at growing trade between Brazil’s leading industrial centre and the Middle East and North Africa region.
João Dória, governor of São Paulo and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, led a ceremony at Dubai Maritime City attended by CEOs and leaders of fifty Brazilian companies as well as senior government officials.
Exports from Brazil to Arab countries grew by 6.3% year-on-year to reach $12.197 billion in 2019. Brazilian imports from the region reached a value of $6.99 billion. The Trade Promotion Office will aim to expand the trading relationship between São Paulo and the MENA region, including exports of Brazilian products, and to attract investment in São Paulo´s privatisation projects.
São Paulo is focusing on expanding its relationship with fast-growing regions. The office in Dubai follows the opening last year of a trade mission in Shanghai. São Paulo’s trade promotion office will boost the development of Dubai Maritime City as a global hub for marine industries and world trade.
InvestSP, the investment and export promotion agency of São Paulo, organised the visit of a Brazilian delegation to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“São Paulo has excellent investment opportunities in both privatisation and private sector initiatives,” said Wilson Mello, president of InvestSP. “The MENA region is already a major importer of Brazilian products, especially from São Paulo, so we have assembled a team of businessmen and other representatives from the private sector to strengthen trade further”.
“We welcome Governor João Doria and members of the São Paulo state commercial delegation to the UAE. The official inauguration of the office in Dubai ushers in an exciting new chapter in our relations, and the Trade Promotion Office will be a valuable addition to the existing strong ties between the Arab region and Brazil”, said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World.
“There was significant growth in trade between Brazil and the UAE as well as with the wider Arab region in 2019. We see great opportunities to expand our trading relationship, benefitting businesses and the people of the UAE and the state of São Paulo”, bin Sulayem added.
The delegation’s visit takes place on February 8-13, including meetings with companies and local investors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In addition to the businessmen, the delegation includes secretaries Henrique Meirelles (Treasury), Patrícia Ellen (Economic Development), Gustavo Junqueira (Agriculture and Supply), João Octaviano (Logistics and Transport), and Júlio Serson (International Relations).
Photo caption; Governor of São Paulo, João Dória, and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World open the São Paulo Trade Promotion Office in Dubai.