Dubai – Halal brought together Brazilians and Arabs to a cocktail party on 23 February 2023 in Dubai during Gulfood week, in the United Arab Emirates. The event was held by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) as an activity of the Halal do Brasil project, which aims to boost the participation of Brazilian companies in the global halal market.
At the cocktail party were authorities such as Carlos Goulart, secretary of Agricultural Defense of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply (MAPA), and Brazilian and Arab business people. Among the sectors of the companies represented at the dinner in which Brazilian barbecue was served were date companies from Saudi Arabia and Brazilian firms operating in the trade or export of products such as beverages to the Arab countries.
ApexBrasil is a partner of the ABCC in the Halal do Brasil project
The opening of the event had speeches by executives linked to the project.
“We are celebrating a new step in the relationship between the ABCC and ApexBrasil. The project will expand our operations not only in the Middle East but in all Islamic countries that require halal certification,” said Tatiana Riera, Chief Operating Officer of the ApexBrasil office in Dubai.
For ambassador Eliana Zugaib, chargée d’affaires of the Embassy of Brazil in the UAE, the moment is ripe for networking, as this week, the emirate is hosting the biggest food and beverage sector show in the region, Gulfood.
“I believe Brazil is one of the countries with the most potential to achieve solid results with this show. And it is one of the major producers and exporters of halal food. This event will bring new opportunities for halal, adding value to products,” Eliana Zugaib said.
There was also the launch of a book by the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA). For the association president, Ricardo Santin, the book describes the steps and procedures companies must undergo to obtain halal certification.“We want to present the paths of Brazilian traders to the Arabs,” he said at the cocktail party. The participants received copies of the book at the end of the cocktail.
The project wants to take halal beyond protein
Brazil is the leading exporter of halal protein in the world. The certification requires a series of adaptations on behalf of the companies.“We are ready to continue with these challenges,” concluded Antonio Jorge Camardelli, president of the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association (ABIEC).
Halal do Brasil
“This project is revolutionary. It can train companies wanting to become halal to show Brazil is here to stay. Brazil does not intend to stick only to protein. We would like to see all our products on the shelves with the halal certification, showing our seriousness,” Tamer Mansour said.
To explain the process Halal do Brazil will undertake, the Strategic Projects advisor of the ABCC, Estevao Carvalho, spoke about partitioning the project into stages. According to him, the work will involve creating and disseminating knowledge about certification, providing training and managing trade itself, and supporting companies to obtain the halal qualification.
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