On June 14 and 15, 2023, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, led a senior UAE team to Brazil to explore the strategic collaboration between the UAE and Brazil in a number of areas. The trip comes after President Lula da Silva’s state visit to the United Arab Emirates on April 15, 2023, which was his first formal trip to the region since his election at the start of this year.
Hashimy claimed that the two nations’ connections are strategic and that her 52-member delegation, which includes executives from her nation’s top industries, is looking at the potential that Brazil has to offer. She added that Brazil is regarded as a pioneer in climate policy and anticipates strong representation from Latin America at the COP28 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai.
Both parties emphasized working together in a variety of important fields, including renewable energy, research and technology, sustainable development, combating climate change, food security and agriculture, aviation, transport, space, and logistics. The approval of the ratification of the Agreement on Cooperation and Investment Facilitation and the Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters by the Brazilian Congress was warmly welcomed by HE Al Hashimy.
HE Al Hashimy also had meetings with the Secretary General of Brazil’s Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Maria Laura de Rocha; the Secretary for Climate, Energy, and Environment, Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Africa and the Middle East, Carlos Duarte; and the Director of the Middle East Department, Sidney Leo Romero. Both parties reaffirmed their mutual commitment to strengthening the strategic alliance and extending bilateral ties to new cooperative fields.
Brazil and the UAE have developed their diplomatic and commercial connections during the course of their 50-year relationship. H.E. Al Hashimy anticipates the Mercosur-UAE Free Trade Agreement to significantly expand trade cooperation. The minister emphasised the significance of them continuing their international cooperation in a multilateral manner.
A strategic collaboration and cooperation agreement has been struck between the Brazilian Navy and EDGE, one of the top advanced technology and defence organizations in the world, for the development of cutting-edge, long-range anti-ship missiles. The agreement demonstrates the parties’ shared desire to lead innovation and look into the export potential of significant international markets.
Henri Al Hashimy gave the opening remarks at the UAE-Brazil Business Forum. She praised the expanding bilateral ties—non-oil bilateral trade between the two countries reached over $4 billion in 2022, up 32% from the previous year—and also emphasized the importance of continuing to look into promising business and investment opportunities in both nations’ markets and strengthening cross-cultural ties.
Additionally, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations between the UAE and MERCOSUR were a major topic of conversation during the visit. The attempts to advance collaboration between the BRICS alliance and the UAE were also discussed.
Al Hashimy also spoke about the UAE’s foreign policy at the Rio Branco Institute, Brazil’s diplomatic academy. Speaking with Brazilian diplomats and academics, HE Al Hashimy emphasized the UAE’s foreign policy and its eagerness to look into possibilities for collaboration with Brazil on issues of mutual interest.
