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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordanian executives participating in the São Paulo Supermarkets Association Fair (Apas Fair) paid a visit to the offices of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo this Tuesday (3rd) and discussed the kind of business they intend to do in Brazil. Eight Jordanian enterprises are represented at the fair, and most of them intend to import Brazilian foodstuffs.

Sameer Al-Amouri, the owner of Khader Al-Amouri & Sons Co., explained that his company imports coffee and spices and then re-exports the goods to other countries. “We buy coffee from Brazil, 70% of the coffee we import comes from Brazil. We also buy black pepper, white pepper and sesame,” he said. His primary goal at the fair is finding direct coffee suppliers.

Ali Hararah, the CEO with Hararah Trading, said his enterprise imports and distributes food in Jordan, but does not buy from Brazil at this time. It is mostly looking for coffee, beef and poultry.

“I am also seeking chocolate brands. There aren’t that many brands of chocolate in Jordan. I got in touch with a few brands yesterday [at Apas] and today I am meeting with their representatives,” the executive revealed.

Fida Abu Ali is a Brazilian-born son of Jordanian parents. He said he used to work importing Brazilian products while living in the United Arab Emirates, and in 2011 he set up a business to distribute Brazilian goods in Jordan.

He imports items including honey, coffee and nuts. “Now, I have purchased a 500 square-meter area and I plan on building a center to distribute those products, and to sign agreements to represent [Brazilian] companies in that region. If the idea is successful in Jordan, our plan is to enter a new Arab country every six months. Our next targets will be Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia, and then Dubai,” he said.

At the Apas Fair, Ali is seeking suppliers of coffee, poultry, honey and beans. “Last year, we imported nearly USD 2 million [in foodstuffs from Brazil] and this year we have plans of getting to USD 5 million,” he claimed.

In 2015, Brazil exported USD 214.5 million in food products to Jordan, a 9.9% increase over 2014. The top-selling items were poultry, beef and cereals.

The Jordanian companies are featured at the Apas Fair in an area organized by the Arab Chamber. Their stand is located in the White Pavilion (Aisle F/G 11, Stand 361).

Forum

The Jordanian delegation’s organizer, the Jordan Chamber of Commerce is intent on holding an investment forum with the participation of Brazilian enterprises. The goal is to showcase investment opportunities in the Arab country to businessmen in Brazil. The plan was announced by Jordan Chamber vice president Ghassan Khirfan during a visit to the Arab Brazilian Chamber.

The group was welcomed by the Arab Chamber’s CEO Michel Alaby, its senior advisor for Institutional and International Relations and former Jordanian ambassador to Brazil, Ramez Goussous, and by board member William Atui. The current Jordanian ambassador to Brasília, Malek Twal, was also in attendance.

“Jordan could be a hub for distribution to the Red Sea area. We offer numerous benefits that are made possible by free trade agreements we sustain with the United States, Canada, the European Union, Turkey and Arab countries,” Khirfan explained.

According to executive, the forum aims to get business owners from both countries in touch, so they can work together. He remarked, however, that from a legal standpoint, Brazilian companies are allowed to operate in Jordan in standalone fashion.

The idea, Khirfan said, is for Brazilian enterprises to use Jordan to leverage their deals with nearby countries, as well as countries that Jordan has trade agreements with.

“We want to get both sides together, Brazilians and Jordanians, so they can form joint ventures and partnerships. Brazilians can go to Jordan and work independently, with 100% Brazilian companies,” he pointed out.

*ANBA