The Mercosul Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced the appointment of Zaid Mirza as Global Director for the Middle East and North Africa region, a strategic move aimed at deepening commercial ties between South America's largest trade bloc and the Arab world. The announcement was made in July 2024 by Argentinian MCCI President Miguel Lujan Paletta.
Mirza's role will encompass responsibility for expanding the chamber's influence across the MENA region. According to the appointment announcement, he plans to open offices in major cities throughout the Middle East and North Africa to facilitate increased business transactions. The move underscores the chamber's commitment to strengthening economic ties in a region where bilateral business relations with Mercosul have already reached $25.7 billion. Paletta expressed his satisfaction with the existing business relations between the two regions, noting that the chamber already maintains a strong presence in the Far East and Asia and is seeking to replicate that success in MENA.
Mirza brings a combination of regional familiarity and international exposure. Educated in the United States and Europe, he has spent over a decade in South America, where his father served as Ambassador of Jordan to Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, and Honduras. According to the chamber, his background in consulting and lobbying across various sectors positions him uniquely to bridge the gap between Mercosul and the MENA region. Public records indicate Mirza is based in Dubai and has previous experience with organizations including the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation of Jordan, the Arab Mixed Martial Arts Federation, and the Jordan Armed Forces. He holds a degree from George Mason University.
The Mercosul Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founded in 1991 (the same year as Mercosul itself), operates as a civil entity of private law recognized by its member countries. Headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, it serves as a bridge between governmental policies and the commercial objectives of business leaders. The broader Mercosul bloc is one of the world's largest economic groupings, with a combined GDP exceeding $2.6 trillion and member countries including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, along with Bolivia which joined as a full member in July 2024. Current bilateral trade between Mercosul and the Middle East includes approximately $12.3 billion in exports and $12.2 billion in imports, with products ranging from agricultural commodities to petroleum and minerals.
The appointment signals Mercosul's intention to deepen its commercial engagement beyond its traditional focus on Asia and the Far East. The chamber's selection of Mirza reflects a strategic bet that his bilingual, bicultural background and experience in both consulting and diplomacy will help unlock opportunities in what the chamber describes as an emerging market with immense potential. With the European Union and Mercosur having recently concluded a free trade agreement after 25 years of negotiations, the bloc appears focused on diversifying its trade partnerships and expanding its global commercial footprint.
