By Fawaz Karami
KUWAIT, March 5 (KUNA) -- Trade negotiations between GCC states and the South American Mercosur member countries would resume by next year, said Secretary General of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Dr. Michel Al-Halabi on Monday.
Dr. Al-Halabi was speaking in an interview with Kuwait News Agency during his current visit to the country for inviting official and private economic leaders to the Second Arab-Brazilian Economic Forum, due next month.
Negotiations at this level were launched in 2009 but no further talks have been held since then.
Free trade between GCC countries and Latin nations, namely Brazil, could impact positively on boosting cooperation between the GCC and Mercosur countries, grouping the Argentines, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay, he added.
The Arab-Brazilian forum is due in Sao Paolo on April 2. Invitees will include Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.
Dr. Al-Halabi, whose visit to Kuwait began on Monday, has already met officials from Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, the Public Investment Authority and Kuwait Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
He will proceed to Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia. He has already visited the UAE.
The scheduled forum will tackle innovation, technology, nutrition, logistics, investments, renewable energy, "halal" food and tourism.
Arab-Brazilian trade exchanges are in the range of USD 20 billion. (end) fnk.rk