Brazilian enterprises discover compelling opportunities within Sharjah’s thriving investment ecosystem
The ninth Sharjah Investment Forum has illuminated the considerable potential for Brazilian businesses to establish regional operations within the emirate, examining the deepening economic partnership between Brazil and the UAE.
The ninth Sharjah Investment Forum convened this week to explore the burgeoning investment corridor between Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, with particular emphasis upon Sharjah’s distinguished position as an optimal regional base for Brazilian enterprises pursuing expansion throughout the Middle East and beyond.
During a comprehensive session entitled ‘Beyond Trade: Unlocking the Brazil–UAE Investment Corridor’, prominent figures within the investment landscape articulated the transformative evolution of economic relations between the two nations. Ana Beatriz Fernandes, Head of InvestSP’s Middle East, North Africa and India Office, observed that whilst bilateral commerce has traditionally centred upon commodities and foodstuffs, the past decade has witnessed a pronounced shift towards direct investment, with enterprises from both nations establishing substantive operations within each other’s markets.
The discussion underscored Sharjah’s distinctive appeal to Brazilian entrepreneurs, attributing this to the emirate’s strategic geographic positioning, formidable economic resilience, world-class infrastructure and sophisticated logistics capabilities. Furthermore, the two cities of Sharjah and São Paulo share complementary priorities spanning commerce, academia and cultural exchange, creating an exceptionally fertile foundation for sustained partnership and collaboration.
The practical dimensions of market entry received particular attention from Lubna Chahine, Partner at Solari Dubai, who emphasised the paramount importance of cultivating authentic local relationships grounded in the principles of trust and mutual understanding. She noted that both Emiratis and Brazilians place considerable value upon personal connections, whilst the emirate’s business community demonstrates remarkable openness towards exploring innovative partnerships with international enterprises.
Mariana Ricardo, Founder and CEO of WhatsNxt, offered strategic counsel for companies navigating the establishment of operations within the UAE market. She advocated for a measured approach combining rigorous long-term planning with operational agility, coupled with meaningful investment in human capital and cultural understanding. The integration of artificial intelligence into operational optimisation, she suggested, should complement rather than supersede the irreplaceable elements of human judgement and intuition.
The forum explored additional dimensions of contemporary business practice, encompassing the application of artificial intelligence within architectural design and visualisation, youth entrepreneurship opportunities, and the psychological foundations of sound decision-making. Matthias Hollwich, Founder of HWKN Architecture, illuminated how artificial intelligence augments the creative process whilst preserving the essential role of human creativity and aesthetic discernment.
The two-day forum, held at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre and operating under the theme ‘Building Adaptive Economies’, incorporated more than 140 activities alongside over eighty international speakers and twenty exhibitors. The Sharjah FDI Office organised the event in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Investment, attracting enterprises and professionals from across the global investment community.
Source: WAM