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The Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) is set to host its second webinar under the topic "International Logistics: challenges and developments of the COVID-19 situation” on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, which will center on the current challenges and opportunities in the logistics and transport of goods in international trade amidst the emergence of the coronavirus (COVID-19). The purpose of the virtual session is to help outline present, short- and medium- term perspectives in logistics and transportation.

The second webinar is also expected to tackle the issue of shipping lanes and how the current situation has resulted in more cargo going back and forth between Brazil and the Arab countries at lower costs. Speakers to be featured at the event include Dennis Lister, Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo Products and Business Development; Sara Hassan Kamal Elgazzar, Dean, AASTMT College of International Transport and Logistics; Nicolas Buhmann, Manager, Maersk Line TradeLens (Global Trade Digitization); Fernanda Rezende, Transport Development Coordinator, National Confederation of Transport (CNT); Rubens Hannun, President, ABCC and Tamer Mansour, Secretary General and CEO, ABCC.

During the session, participating logistics and infrastructure experts will discuss key measures aimed at addressing current challenges like shortages, the container flow, and the joint actions that may be taken to add bring benefits to the general society and the private sector. Meanwhile, Emirates SkyCargo’s Dennis Lister and Maersk’s Nicolas Buhmann will tackle the challenges of their respective fields–air and sea shipping–including insights for the South America-Arab trade when it comes to ensuring steady supplies and the availability of shipping containers, among other subjects.

Rubens Hannun, President, Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, said, "We are excited with our second webinar session, which will focus on the logistics industry. The session will tackle the obstacles, challenges and opportunities in logistics and transportation, amidst the COVID-19 situation. There are many food security concerns in different countries, and food security can only be ensured through safe, reliable, permanent logistics. In line with this, the ABCC believes that the ongoing debate will also fast-track a medium-to-long-term solution involving direct shipping lanes linking up Brazil and the Arab countries. We have already been looking into this and have already started to plan alongside the Union of Arab Chambers at the request of the Arab League. Our goal is to create a work agenda that will culminate in the setting up of a private company to operate in logistics and marine transportation between Brazil and the Arab countries."

The second webinar follows the success of the initial virtual session held recently and featured H.E. Tereza Cristina, Brazil’s Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Minister and Khaled Hanafy, Secretary General, Union of Arab Chambers–with discussions centering on supply chains. The webinar was viewed by some 800 people across Brazil and the Arab countries. The Chamber intends to host regularly held webinars for as long as the situation continues, in a bid to provide information to Brazilian and Arab companies, thereby helping keep trade going.