Intervention from H.E. Vice-President - Brazil-UAE: Economic Sustainability Forum for the Amazon Opening Ceremony

The relationship between our countries is expanding at an incredible speed. 

Governments, companies, and investors should be up to date and well connected to seize the opportunities that are emerging in many different areas of cooperation. 

The sustainable development of the Amazon is a case in point. 

Brazil and the UAE are striving to modernize and diversify their economies, ensuring greater resilience, efficiency, and sustainability in the long term.  

The Government of President Jair Bolsonaro has adopted from the outset a modern approach for market-oriented economic growth. Structural reforms and fiscal consolidation are providing conditions for the post-pandemic economic recovery in Brazil. 

However, there is no lasting growth without environmental protection. 

Brazil is blessed for sheltering the largest part of the Amazon rainforest, which is the world’s greatest reserve of biodiversity and water. 

It is a treasure that should be cherished, preserved and developed in a way that allows sustainable and profitable business to thrive and grow, creating good paying jobs for the Amazon people.

In May 2019, President Bolsonaro launched a comprehensive initiative to protect, conserve and develop the Amazonand invited me to lead the effort. 

As the Chair of the National Council of the Amazon Region, I have given priority to the fight against illegal deforestation, without losing sight of the need to shape an effective multistakeholder strategy for the sustainable growth of the Amazon economy. 

We have been able to overcome the political deadlock that existed between those who saw the forest as an obstacle to economic growth and those that believed the private sector was an enemy to the forest´s integrity. 

The main stakeholders on the issue in Brazil have converged on the need to eliminate illegal deforestation by 2030 or even sooner, while also paving the way for new partnerships and investments in sustainable and inclusive activities in the region. 

Emerging technologies now allow for the sustainable use of biodiversity resources in many areas like cosmetics, medicines, and food-products. 

New factories installed in the region are now adding value to forest products and creating green and inclusive jobs in the region. 

The integration of crop-farm-forest systems and the incentives for low carbon agriculture are fostering sustainable food production. 

Financial institutions and investors are also aligned to support sustainable development in the Amazon, seeking to integrate Environmental, Social and Governance criteria in their investment strategy.

These and other innovations are in tandem with demands from consumers, who are increasingly sensitive on important matters related to diversity, sustainability, and health. 

Time has come for robust efforts in favor of the sustainable development in the Amazon.

Changes are gaining speed not only in the Brazilian rainforest. Anyone visiting the EXPO Dubai can agree that we have reached a critical juncture in our common history. 

The Covid-19 has brought suffering and losses to the world, and it also has forced changes in the way we work, live, and relate with one another and with the environment.  

Sustainability became an essential element for the pact between generations in the 21st century and a requisite for any strategic planning.  

Now that we are leaving the worst phase of the pandemic behind, we need to adjust our expectations and priorities for the future. 

In this context, we must acknowledge the outstanding resilience and the expansion of bilateral relations between Brazil and the UAE in the past two years. 

Our trade exchange was barely affected by the pandemic and has shown a strong recovery in 2021. From January to August 2021, our trade flows have increased 33% when compared to 2020.

Brazilian agribusiness is strongly present in the Emirati market, the third largest trade partner of Brazil in the Middle East.

The UAE has more than US$ 10 billion invested in Brazil, especially in the infrastructure and energy sector. 

More than 30 Brazilian companies are already operating in the UAE market.

The entry into force of our agreements on investment and double taxation will intensify investment flows between our countries.

More agreements and opportunities are still to come. 

The bilateral relations between our two countries have been elevated in 2019 to the level of a Strategic Partnership. 

Both governments are carving out partnerships on a broad set of issues, such as peace and security, economic cooperation, sustainable development, political dialogue, energy, tourism, culture, and sports.  

President Jair Bolsonaro has visited the UAE in 2019 and is returning within 42 days to celebrate the Brazilian day in the EXPO Dubai. 

His delegation will have a strong presence of Brazilian businessmen and government authorities, expanding and strengthening even further ties between our public and private leaders. 

The themes chosen for EXPO Dubai– mobility, opportunity, and sustainability – reveal the UAE's concern with the challenges mankind is now facing. 

The Brazilian Pavillion will enable us to present to a wider audience the set of actions undertaken for the sustainable development of the Amazon.

We need to show the World the environmental and human complexities of the region, as well as the economic opportunities it offers for green investments. 

The National Council of the Amazon Region is working to make the sustainable development of the Amazon a very promising business in Brazil. 

The Council is strengthening the State capacity to curb deforestation, while also integrating preservation, protection, and development policies into a coherent strategy for the region. 

From the outset, Bioeconomy has been a priority in our agenda, taking into account the private sector as an indispensable partner for its implementation.

Existing value chains for food products, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, for instance, can be improved or expanded even in the short term. 

Degraded areas are offering opportunity for new business models combining the production of forest products with financial incentives for reforestation and ecosystem restauration. In this regard, we hope COP-26 can meet its goals to ensure effective climate financing and a rational framework for carbon markets. 

The three largest private banks of Brazil have launched a joint initiative providing great impulse for the bioeconomy agenda in the Amazon. And investments in Research and Development have paved the way for a unique knowledge-based bioeconomy in the region.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Brazil and the UAE are working to ensure a better life for our future generations. As Strategic Partners, we should join forces in this effort.

Brazil has proven to be a reliable provider of food security even during the worst phases of the pandemic. 

We are now shaping a friendly business environment for private actors to generate value, jobs and creative solutions for the future of the Amazon.

Brazil is seeking to foster partnerships with the private sector, foreign governments, and investment funds for the sustainable development of the Amazon.

We believe this Forum is a bold step in this direction and I wish you very productive discussions today. 

Thank you very much.