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Brazil-Sudan Forum gathers 700 people in Khartoum
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Mar 26, 2008 - 7:22:43 AM

Brazil-Sudan Forum gathers 700 people in Khartoum

The event began today in the Sudanese capital, with government officials and private sector representatives from both countries. Today, the Sudanese talked about their country's potential in the agricultural field. Tomorrow will be the Brazilians' turn.

Press Release

Forum in Sudan: country has agricultural potential, but lacks know-how and machinery

From the Newsroom*

São Paulo – Approximately 700 people watched the lectures in the first day of the Brazil-Sudan Forum on Agriculture, Trade and Investment, in Khartoum. According to the secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby, the minister of Agriculture for the State of Khartoum, Jodattalla Osman Suliman, which organises the event, claimed that Sudan has a lot to learn from Brazil in the agricultural field.

According to Alaby, who is participating in the conference, the director at the Department of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Negotiations at the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Luiz Carlos de Oliveira, claimed that Brazil is at the disposal of the Sudanese government to cooperate in the technological and human resources fields, with the objective of developing agriculture in the African country.

To Suliman, according to Alaby, Brazil is a strategic partner. The governor of the State of Khartoum, Abdul Halim Ismaeil Mutaafi, who travelled to Brazil twice, said that the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) should finance exports of agricultural machinery and equipment to Sudan.

According to the director at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, the African country produces sorghum, wheat, millet (Pennisetum americanum), sesame seed, nuts, cotton and henna. Sudan also produces sugarcane, bovine, ovine and caprine meat, has available lands and water resources. The country, however, lacks the necessary know-how and machinery to make the sector advance and to cater to the domestic demand.

Alaby claimed, for instance, that one kilogram of fresh chicken meat costs US$ 5.00 in the local market, and it would be good for the country to import more, so as to reduce that value. He also stated that a mission of Brazilian producers of soy and of irrigation equipment should head to Sudan this month in order to close business deals.

According to the secretary general, representatives of the Sudanese government talked about the country's potential for agriculture, dairy cattle, organic food, Arabic gum and meat. They also spoke of the investment laws currently in effect and of international partnership efforts.

The debates also counted on the participation of the director general at the Ministry of Agriculture for the State of Khartoum, Abdul Eldaw, the secretary at the Federal Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Bashir Taha Mohamed Taha, and the Brazilian ambassador in Khartoum, Hélio de Magalhães.

Tomorrow, it will be the Brazilians' turn to present their data. Lecturers should include Luiz Carlos de Oliveira, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mohamed Zoghbi, of the Federation of Muslim Associations of Brazil (Fambras), Christian Lohbauer, president at the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef), Fabrício Leite, of food company Perdigão, Marcio Caparroz, of the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec), and André Monteiro and Luiz Mizutani, of dairy company Itambé.

Alaby should present an overview of the Brazilian economy, of the state of São Paulo (SE Brazil), of the work of the Arab Brazilian Chamber and of the opportunities for partnerships between Brazil and Sudan.

*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum