Qatar Chamber, Arab-Brazilian Chamber explore enhancing ties.
The Qatar Chamber and the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) held a meeting in Sao Paulo to explore expanding trade and investment ties between Qatar and Brazil. Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidli, also the chair of the chamber’s Food Security & Environment Committee and the Technology & Innovation Committee, and William Dib, president of the ABCC, convened the meeting. Discussions focused on deepening private-sector cooperation across various sectors, including agriculture, food production, halal-certified products, food security, logistics, and innovation. It also reviewed the possibility of establishing an electronic link between Qatar Chamber and the ABCC. During the meeting, al-Obaidli affirmed that Qatar and Brazil enjoy robust relations, noting wide-ranging opportunities to enhance trade and investment between both nations, particularly in food security, agriculture, food production, and logistics. He noted that Qatar could serve as a regional hub for storing and distributing Brazilian food products to markets across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). He highlighted Qatar’s strategic location, advanced infrastructure, and well-developed transport and logistics systems. Al-Obaidli pointed to the potential for joint partnerships and investments between Qatari and Brazilian companies in food production and processing, meat and poultry, animal feed and fertilisers, cold-chain solutions, logistics, and agricultural technology, thereby enhancing food security and supply chain resilience. He emphasised Qatar Chamber’s keenness to coordinate with relevant entities in both countries to identify Brazilian companies interested in investing and to organise business meetings to explore cooperation opportunities and establish joint projects, contributing to the transition from traditional trade relations to sustainable investment partnerships. He also stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in technology and innovation, connecting companies and business communities in both countries, and benefiting from the expertise and experience available on both sides. Dib affirmed the strong and growing relations between Brazil and Qatar, noting that bilateral trade exceeded $400mn last year. He said Brazil’s main exports to Qatar include agricultural and food products, while imports from Qatar include refined petroleum products, fertilisers, and aluminium. He also noted that Qatari investments in Brazil have exceeded $7bn since 2010 in several sectors and pointed to Brazilian companies operating in Qatar across various sectors. The two sides agreed to maintain communication and coordination between the Qatar Chamber and the ABCC, strengthen cooperation between the two business communities, and explore new trade and investment opportunities to advance bilateral economic relations.