The government of Lebanon wants Brazil to participate in their construction projects. The Lebanese prime minister, Saad Hariri, expressed his interest during a meeting with the Brazilian minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Miguel Jorge.
“They have a project for building 26 dams,” said Miguel Jorge, who explained that the works will be geared towards electric power generation in the Arab country.
Miguel Jorge visited in Lebanon heading a trade mission with 86 businessmen. Among them were representatives of Brazilian construction companies Andrade Gutierrez and Queiroz Galvão.
In Beirut, as well as in the city visited previously, Cairo, executives from those companies had a series of meetings with construction industry professionals in Lebanon and Egypt.
According to the president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce , Salim Taufic Schahin, there are several opportunities for the building industry in Lebanon, and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) may provide support to companies in those projects.
“There are opportunities for the building material sector, in spite of Chinese competition,” said Schahin.
Minister Miguel Jorge was also welcomed, in Beirut, by the president of the country, Michel Sleiman. The Lebanese head of state is going to be in Brazil in April on an official trip and will go to Brasília, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.
According to Miguel Jorge, he made a request for efforts to be sped up for the signing of an agreement between Lebanon and the Mercosur. The meeting was attended by some other authorities, such as the president of the Arab Brazilian Chamber, Salim Schahin, and of the Brazilian ambassador to Beirut, Paulo Fontoura.
The group also discussed cultural and migratory ties between Brazil and Lebanon. “We talked a lot about the Lebanese in Brazil. We have over 30 congressmen of Lebanese origin, five ministers,” said Miguel Jorge.
The minister himself and the Arab Brazilian Chamber president are of Lebanese origin. The honorary consul of Lebanon to São Paulo, Mustapha Abdouni, is also a member of the Brazilian delegation.
