Brazil keen on ‘greater role in Middle East’

South America’s largest country, Brazil is keen to play a key role in the whole of the Middle East as it enjoys “traditional” and cultural relations with the countries of the region for several decades.

This was disclosed by Brazilian ambassador Anuar Nahes to journalists at a meeting held yesterday at the Brazilian embassy to formally announce the arrival of Brazilian President Luiz In?cio Lula da Silva for a tour of the region tomorrow.
The Brazilian envoy said his country considered Qatar as a country capable of playing a prominent role in establishing long-standing peace in the whole of the Middle East region. “Qatar has played a major role in its efforts to establish peace in Lebanon and the world has also seen what Qatar has been doing all along for a peaceful solution to the Darfur crisis,” said the ambassador.

The Brazilian president during his visit will meet HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and will then attend a meeting organised by members of the Arab Chamber of Commerce at Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday.

The envoy said he is proud of the agreements concluded by Qatar with Brazil in recent years. There has been agreements in culture, air traffic and sport exchanges between the two countries during the past one year and many other agreements are possible in the coming years in view of the mutual interests of the two countries, said Nahes.

The ambassador said though the trade between the two countries was far from “steady” in the last 20 years, there have been a spate of activities involving the two countries in the last few years. “Qatar may not be perhaps the most important market of Brazilian goods in the region but there is an increasing interest in Qatar these days in our country. The visits by HH the Emir, HH Sheikha Mozah and Prime Minister HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani to the country in the last one year have reinforced it in no uncertain terms,” said Nahes.

Even though the trade between the two countries went up eight-fold in the last two decades, there was a major fall in the trade volume between 2008 and 2009, according to figures released by the embassy.

While the total trade between the two countries was $449mn in 2008, it fell to $220.50mn last year.

The ambassador expressed the hope that with the likely signing of contracts between Brazil and local business groups during the president’s visit, trade between the two countries would go up considerably. “We also foresee the chances of setting up joint ventures in Brazil and Qatar in coming years,” he said.
He also complimented Qatar Airways for its plans to launch flights to Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires from June 24.