Alexandre Rocha*
alexandre.rocha@anba.com.br
São Paulo – The government of the state of Khartoum, in Sudan, is going to promote, between March 25th and 27th, the Sudan-Brazil Forum on Agricultural and Livestock Resources. The objective is to place face-to-face representatives of the governments and of the private sector in both countries to discuss business opportunities and partnerships.
On the Brazilian side will be representatives of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Brazilian Beef Industry and Exporters Association (Abiec), the Brazilian Poultry Exporters Association (Abef) and the Federation of Muslim Associations of Brazil (Fambras), as well as dairy producer Itambé and food sector company Perdigão.
"The minister of Agriculture of Khartoum, Jodattalla Osman Suliman, was in Brazil last year and launched the idea of promoting a workshop among these sectors, to see how both countries may cooperate in these areas," said to ANBA the ambassador of Sudan to Brazilian capital Brasília, Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman.
The idea is to make the Brazilians meet with their Sudanese counterparts, and then to meet with government representatives, with sector organisations and with businessmen. "Each is going to represent his sector," said Osman. "And business may also be forwarded," he added. The event is being promoted in the local press and the ambassador expects the presence of a large number of spectators, especially businessmen.
The secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Michel Alaby, is going to speak about the general panorama of Brazil and about the business opportunities in different sectors, to present the state of São Paulo and also to discuss between Brazil and the Arab nations and Sudan. "Ever since the opening of the Sudanese embassy in Brazilian capital Brasília, trade has grown over five times," said Alaby. The embassy was opened in 2004 and in the previous year bilateral trade had been almost US$ 8 million. In 2007 the value was US$ 47 million.
According to the ambassador, one of the priorities is to show the Brazilians the investment opportunities and joint ventures in Sudan. "The country has 50 million heads of cattle, so a joint venture may be made to produce beef and to supply the local market and others in the region, as we have the animals, the land and also the water. The same is valid in the case of milk," he said.
He pointed out the proximity of Sudan with the countries of the Gulf, on the other side of the Red Sea, and of other African markets. "Why not encourage Brazilian companies to produce there for the local market and for exports? All you have to do is look at the price of transportation," he pointed out.
According to the diplomat, his country has great agricultural potential, with around 100 million hectares of areas appropriate for the activity, but just 20 million are currently used. Sudan, however, is lacking in know-how, technology and machinery, all of which may be supplied by Brazilian companies.
In the area of chicken, Osman said that local production is not enough to supply the demand and that the country does not yet import directly from Brazil. But the market is open, we have no restrictions to imports," he pointed out. The main products that Sudan imports from Brazil are sugar, powdered milk, tractors, harvesters and other capital goods, tobacco, vehicles and lorries.
Alaby pointed out that in 2006, Brazil opened an embassy in Khartoum and that this month it started issuing visas to the Sudanese, who previously had to get them in the embassy of Brazil to Cairo, in Egypt.
The secretary general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber should also speak about the organisation's activities and should present to the Sudanese Association of Businessmen and Employers a proposal for the establishment of a Brazil-Sudan Business Council.
Apart from participating in the Forum, the Brazilians are also going to make several visits to authorities, organisations and Sudanese companies. Still this year there should be a similar event in Brazil.
*Translated by Mark Ament