For Lula, Qatar is a gateway to diversify business with the Middle East

Speaking on Thursday (30/11) at the opening of the Brazil-Qatar Economic Forum: Opportunities and Business, in Doha, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reinforced Brazil's interest in strengthening trade relations with Qatar while hoping that the Middle Eastern country will diversify its investment portfolio in Brazil.

There is ample space to diversify our trade agenda with higher value-added products, such as auto parts, defense products and Embraer aircraft" 
LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA
Brazil's President

"We want to look to the future together and attract a new wave of investment to Brazil. Our bilateral trade has grown exponentially, from around 38 million dollars in 2003 to 1.6 billion dollars today. Qatar is currently one of our principal gateways for business with the Middle East and has a vibrant business community with an intense interest in Brazil," he said.

» High-resolution images (Flickr)

Lula emphasized that he sees good opportunities in the fields of defense, aviation and auto parts."There is ample space to diversify our trade agenda with higher value-added products, such as auto parts, defense products and EMBRAER aircraft - like the C-390 that brought me to Doha," he explained.

After his participation in the forum, Lula made an official visit to the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. On Thursday, the president will travel from Doha to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, where he will participate in COP28, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. Lula emphasized that Brazil intends to consolidate its position as one of the protagonists in the ongoing global transition towards a sustainable economy.

"The energy transition is a new opportunity to repeat this success story in the areas of low-carbon energy, waste reuse, green infrastructure and socio-biodiversity. Brazil will soon be an exporter of sustainability. We have immense potential in the solar, wind, biofuels and green hydrogen sectors. At COP 28, I will launch a call for action and ambition in facing the climate crisis. I am sure that Qatar can also be an important ally in this agenda," said Lula.

President Lula was also received by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. Photo by Ricardo Stuckert / PR

Brazil could be the country with the best conditions for sustainable investment in the world, both socially and environmentally
FERNANDO HADDAD
Minister of Finance

INVESTMENTS - Minister Rui Costa (Civil House) gave a presentation to Qatar's businesspeople and leaders at the opening of the forum. He presented the investments of US$ 347 billion foreseen in infrastructure via the New PAC (New Growth Acceleration Program), highlighted the Green Agenda and how the country is already working on the transition to a sustainable economy, and stressed the country's investment opportunities in areas such as railroads, highways, waterways, ports and airports, as well as the prospect of recovering 40 million hectares to double food production in ten years.

At the end of the event, the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, praised Brazil's ability to attract investments in projects related to sustainability. "Brazil could be the country with the best conditions for sustainable investment in the world, both from a social and environmental point of view," said the minister.

According to him, the trip to Qatar has a good chance of attracting new partners to Brazil, as happened in Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia intends to invest almost 50 billion reais in Brazil. This will improve logistics, the productivity of the Brazilian economy and create jobs. We are starting negotiations with Qatar. In the case of Saudi Arabia, it's already advanced and the fund that the Kingdom wants to set up is already in progress. Qatar is a good promise," concluded Haddad.