I also take this opportunity to extend my cordial greetings to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the government and the friendly people of the Kingdom.
Since I last addressed readers of Arab News, much has happened between Saudi Arabia and Brazil. Bilateral relations have never been so close and perspectives have never looked so promising.
The visit of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in May 2009, the first ever of a Brazilian head of state to the Kingdom, brought new momentum to the partnership forged between the two countries since 1968 — the year diplomatic relations were established. The visit was the culmination of a carefully designed foreign policy objective adopted at the start of the president’s first term in office: Closer relations with the Middle East, in general, and with Saudi Arabia, in particular. President Dilma Rousseff, the successor of Lula, upholds and follows the policy of closer relations with the Middle Eastern countries which further intensify Brazil’s strong urge and continued efforts toward enhancing closer ties with this region.
As a result, in the past eight and half years, alternating between bilateral and multilateral events, much has been accomplished: In 2005, Brazil hosted the first Summit of South American and Arab Countries in Brasilia, an initiative that has transformed the profile of the interaction between the two regions in the areas of policy coordination, education, science, finance, and many others. Parallel to that, the two blocs GCC and Mercosur signed an agreement for cooperation and are currently negotiating a free trade area that would boost trade even more. On a commercial level, trade has increased to unprecedented levels, with the broadening of the list of products exchanged. Also, the number of official and commercial delegations has increased significantly.
During the same period, politically, the G20 structure of world governance has consolidated itself and should replace the G8 in the near future. Saudi Arabia and Brazil are both members of the group and have worked side by side in the process that has been leading to the reshaping of the international agenda and to the reforms of mechanisms at the disposal of the international society.
Commercial ties have traditionally been the very strong aspect of bilateral relations for many years. In times of renewed mutual interest, this area has drawn special attention. The Brazilian Ministries of External Relations, Development, Industry and Trade and Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock have worked together to best seize the opportunities Saudi Arabia’s expanding domestic market offers. As a result, the Brazilian participation in the Saudi Build and Saudi Food fairs has not only been given priority status, but the number of companies interested in these fairs is increasing year after year.
In this context, Miguel Jorge, the former Brazilian minister of development, industry and trade, visited Saudi Arabia in December 2010, accompanied by representatives of 80 companies of many different sectors. The minister met with his Saudi counterparts and discussed the current status of commercial relations and, together with them, explored the possibilities of further strengthening such relations. Parallel to the official talks, Jorge presided over a broad-spectrum road show of commercial and investment opportunities in Brazil. Another area of particular common interest is agriculture. Given the desert nature of its territory, the Kingdom has very limited food production capacity. Moreover, the world faced, since the middle of 2008, a noticeable decrease in the supply of the basic food commodities due to their increasing demand, which, in turn, led and to an increase of commodities prices. The combination of these two factors has raised the profile of the topic “food security” in the country and the adoption of the King Abdullah Initiative for Agro-Investment Overseas.
Brazil is a country of many vocations, but its agricultural potential is so vast it could hardly be measured. The country already dominates some of the most important commodities markets with record crops every year. Yet, there is much room for the development of this important sector, which can be best done in association with foreign capital. In the context of closer relations with Saudi Arabia, agricultural authorities in Brasilia have become familiar with Saudi Arabia’s paradox: Shortage of food supply opposed to cash liquidity to invest overseas in food production as a means to secure access to food imports.
In compliance with the Brazilian government’s decision of increased cooperation with Arab countries, the Embassy of Brazil, in coordination with the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized in 2009 a seminar on investment opportunities in the Brazilian agricultural sector attended by high ranking officials of Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Banco do Brazil. Saudi Agricultural Minister Fahd bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim was invited to visit Brazil. Accompanied by a high-level business delegation, Balghunaim visited Brazil in October 2010 exploring opportunities for cooperation on food production and modalities of foreign investment in Brazil’s agricultural sector. In the same period the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply was taking part in the Saudi Agro-Food 2010 with 13 Brazilian companies. Another official delegation from the Brazilian Agency of Cooperation (ABC) visited Saudi Arabia in 2010 and met with officials from the then Supreme Commission of Tourism and Saudi Museum Directorate. [Now SCT is called the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).]
This year, a business delegation from Brazil led by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce participated in the Food Arabia Trade Fair that took place in Jeddah. From Saudi Arabia, two delegations have already visited Brazil early this year. One was by representatives from the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu and the other, a delegation of Saudi youths, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In my opinion, relations between Brazil and Saudi Arabia are going through very prosperous times. However, there is considerable room for further development. Brazil’s roots in the rich culture and heritage of Arab civilization can play a significant role in this process. Since the 19th century, successive waves of immigrants from the Middle East have made their way to Brazil in search for new horizons. Over the years, they have contributed to forging present-day Brazil and to its diverse human landscape. Arab values, tastes and sensibilities are today an integral part of what it means to be Brazilian.
Politically, the two countries have converging interests in terms of international politics and diplomacy. Saudi Arabia and Brazil joined hands to ensure that the international community arrives at timely and effective responses to the global crisis. Our countries are especially well placed to exercise this leadership role given the global weight of our economies, as well as their resilience in the face of the present turmoil. The Brazilian people are highly appreciative of the efforts of King Abdullah’s global peace initiatives, interfaith dialogue and support to alleviate poverty.
Economically, Brazil is a country of abundant natural resources and of a broad agricultural and industrial base, with a competitive economy. Saudi Arabia, on its side, is placed at a strategic geographical location and has solid economic foundation. Brazil also shares with Saudi Arabia the conviction that deeper South-South relations are critical to ensuring that our countries will continue on the path to sustainable development.
