According to the meeting's coordinator, André Gonçalves, more Arab businessmen are likely to join the list of participants. In all, some 250 foreigners are expected and about 1,000 Brazilians. Amongst the countries to be represented are Bangladesh, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guiana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Suriname, Tanzania, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The meeting is promoted by the World Trade University, under the United Nations (UN). In Brazil, the congress is being organised by the Forum of Young Entrepreneurs, of the São Paulo Trade Association. As well as working for the training of young entrepreneurs, the meeting is also a space for business. So much so that foreigners participating are selected by the university. As well as being members of a company, they need to prove that they have potential to do business during the congress.
Some of the Arab companies to be represented in the congress are Sarldznet, of information technology, from Algeria, Maoa Fishing, which works with production, imports and exports of fisheries and foodstuff, and Cutting Works Mauritius, in the field of foreign trade and manufactured products, from Mauritania. Maoa will have two executives in the meeting. The three have revenues between US$ 500,000 and US$ 30 million.
"Brazil has always been a warehouse for generation of business with the Arabs," stated Gonçalves, who is also the deputy coordinator of the Forum of the São Paulo Trade Association. According to him, there are points in common between the Arabs and Brazilians, among them the belief that entrepreneurialism is a way of growth. He recalls that apart from the representatives from the Arab countries, the Congress should also include businessmen who are of Arab descent and run their companies in Brazil. The Congress organization hopes that between 300 and 500 business deals may be closed during the three days of the meet.
The Anhembi will have rooms reserved for meetings between entrepreneurs. When they enrol, in reality, they have already filled out a registration form that identifies their main points of interest. The system crosses the data and shows the businessman the names of potential trade partners. According to Gonçalves, the participants may schedule meetings to take place during the congress, and the scheduling may begin before the opening of the event.
Current matters
The meeting will include roundtables and workshops to take place simultaneously. The themes to be covered will include globalisation, public-private partnerships, south-south cooperation, investment, female entrepreneurialism, agribusiness, financial services, fashion, copyright, biotechnology and exports. The speakers are, in general, the presidents of companies or successful executives.
The Arabs who should speak at the event are the Egyptian Abdel Hamid Mamdouh, director of Trade in Services at the World Trade Organization (WTO), who operates from Switzerland; Akel Biltaji, Senator and Advisor to the King of Jordan, Bassem Awadallah; CEO of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development of Jordan and former minister of Finance; Nassif Abdel Aziz Al-Nasser, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary permanent representative of the state of Qatar to the UN. Technology company User Strategy, from Dubai, will also be represented by the organization's president, Brett King.
According to the press department of the event, the congress will also include the founder of relationship site Orkut, Orkut Buyukkokte, the owner of the largest electronic product organization in China, Hunag Guangyu Yu, and the first black female astronaut to travel to space, Mae Jemison. This is the first time that the congress takes place in Latin America.
International standards consider young entrepreneurs people up to the age of 42. According to Gonçalves, however, people who are over this age are not prohibited from participating. Enrolment is open to Brazilians and it may be done through the meeting site (below). The enrolment fee is R$ 1,650 (around US$ 770 at current exchange rates) up to February 28 and R$ 1,815 (around US$ 845) from then on.
10th World Summit of Young Entrepreneurs
Date: 15 to 17 March
Site: Anhembi Park Convention Palace
Address: Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1209, São Paulo
Information: (+55 11) 3814-6401
Enrolment: www.wsyebrasil.com.br
