Brazil has “arms wide open,” Bolsonaro tells Arab ambassadors
During a dinner with 37 ambassador from Islamic countries, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said today (Apr. 10) that the trade relations between these nations and Brazil should be translated into ties of friendship and respect. In his address, Bolsonaro declared the government has its “arms wide open” to all countries.
“May these commercial ties be transformed more and more into ties of friendship, respect, and fraternity,” the president stated in a video released by the Planalto presidential palace.
The dinner was promoted by the Agriculture and Livestock Confederation of Brazil (CNA), and brought together 37 ambassadors from Islamic countries, in addition to Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina, Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo, and CNA President João Martins.
Minister Tereza Cristina noted that the government has worked to build relations with all countries, valuing the role of agribusiness in foreign trade. “Brazil will become firmer and firmer in its resolve to become a friendly country to all countries, and our job in agriculture is more and more to strengthen not just friendship but also the Brazilian agricultural business with these great countries making up the Arab League,” she stated.
Closer connections
The meeting comes after Bolsonaro’s visit to Israel and the announcement of a Brazilian business office in Jerusalem. The efforts to move closer to Israel and Bolsonaro’s promise to relocate the country’s embassy to Jerusalem brought tension among Islamic countries—allies of Palestine.
Chancellor Ernesto Araújo denied misunderstandings on the government’s part regarding Islamic nations. The dinner, he said, proved relations are good. “There was never a cold shoulder, but of course it’s always important to show in practice that certain speculations are not real,” he argued.
Commerce
According to CNA, the event aims to bolster the trade partnership between Brazilian agribusiness and the countries in the Islamic world, which rank third among the main importers of agricultural goods from Brazil.
“We agricultural producers cannot be restricted to a given region and country. This dinner served to show everyone that Brazil has no sense of distinction to whoever it may be,” said João Martins, who went on to say that “the page has turned” concerning an allegedly tense atmosphere.
International
Palestine’s Ambassador to Brazil Ibrahin Alzeben said the assembly served to “break the ice” in diplomatic relations. In his view, the conflict between Israeli and Palestinians is an issue of internal politics.
“This is no conflict of Brazil. We’ll keep good relations with Brazil, and we wish Brazil the best,” said the ambassador, who regarded the meeting very positively, describing it as “peaceful.”
“This has been a unique opportunity to break the ice after a number of news stories came in which were not good for our bilateral relations,” he added.
The city of Jerusalem is part of the disputes between Palestinians and Israelis, as both claim the place as sacred. Eastern Jerusalem is considered the capital of a future Palestinian capital. Tel Aviv is regarded as Israel’s administrative capital.
Figures
Brazilian agribusiness accounts for 73 percent of Brazil’s exports to Islamic countries, as per data from CNA. The record was set in 2017, when exports added up to $19.1 billion.
In 2018, crude cane sugar led exports with $3.8 billion in sales, followed by corn, fresh chicken, soybeans, and fresh beef.
To be exported, some products, like animal proteins, must undergo slaughtering procedures in accordance with Muslim precepts. This type of slaughtering is referred to as halal.
Last year, Brazil exported $2.32 billion in chicken and $1,52 billion in beef to these countries. The output earns the country the title of the world’s biggest halal protein exporter.
These countries also occupy the sixth position among countries selling Brazilian agribusiness goods to Brazil, preceded by Argentina, the European Union, the US, Chile, and China.
Last year, Brazil imported slightly more than $1 billion in goods. Palm oil, cotton textiles, and natural rubber were the main products imported.
