Brazil is offering Qataris various investment opportunities in sectors such as agribusiness, automotive, and real estate, the Brazilian embassy in Doha has said. Speaking to Gulf Times, deputy chief of mission Joao Carlos Belloc said these sectors in his country have the potential for solid business growth.
“Starting with agribusiness, Brazil has grown into one of the world’s largest agricultural producers and exporters in the past two decades,” the envoy noted. Agribusiness in Brazil remains strong due to a number of factors such as having one of the largest arable lands in the world vis-a-vis the rising demand to feed a growing global population.
In addition to agrarian ventures, the envoy said Brazil’s automotive industry presents abundant opportunities as it accounts for almost 20% of the country’s gross domestic product.
According to Belloc, Brazil has become the 7th largest vehicle producer and the 4th largest vehicle consumer market in the world with investments encompassing car bodies and cabs, electrical and electronic components, suspension and steering systems, breaks, engines, and transmission systems, among others.
“A growing middle class, investment liberalisation, more tourism and the expansion of trade and open skies agreements are also major contributors to sustainable air transport growth in Brazil, which facilitates growth in demand for new aircraft and aviation companies,” he said.
With a growing population in Brazil, Belloc expects the demand for crude oil and liquefied natural gas to rise further. The envoy said there will be considerable opportunities for supplying energy industry-related equipment and goods to meet the growing demand.
These include pumps, compressors, cranes, flares, manifolds, reactors, processing towers, turbines (gas), steam generators, and heat exchangers, among others.
Currently the 9th largest oil producer and energy consumer in the world, Brazil is also an emerging global energy heavy-weight, Belloc said .
He noted that Qataris can also invest in the real estate sector, which has undergone significant development and diversification over the past 10 years.
“During this period, the most important domestic developers have conducted initial public offerings, a large number of new real estate investment trusts and hospitality-related funds have begun operating,” he said. “Sophisticated new instruments with strong returns have been introduced to the market.”
The embassy is currently negotiating dates for a Brazil-Qatar Joint Committee at the Ministerial level, a meeting that is expected to boost the two countries’ relations in trade and investment, and other fields.
“That was decided in a meeting between President Dilma Rousseff and HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in November 2014 when she visited Doha,” Belloc said.