“Many of them make their living from tourism, like Madeira, and understand that they can learn from our tradition of hospitality”, says José Manuel Rodrigues, quoted in a communiqué from the Legislative Assembly, after a meeting with a council of Arab ambassadors, in Funchal.

“It is an opportunity to attract investment from Arab countries, which have the Autonomous Region of Madeira on their radar as an area where their investments can prosper”, he underlines.

The council of Arab ambassadors visiting Madeira was led by Nabil Abuznaid, head of the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission in Lisbon, and includes the ambassadors of the Kingdom of Morocco, Othmane Bahnini, of Qatar, Saad Ali AlMuhannadi, of Libya, Saad Erhayem of Egypt, Wael El-Naggar of Kuwait, Hamad Alhazeem of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Chakib Rachid Kaid, and of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Eid Aldhafeeri.

“We came to build bridges between the Arab world and Madeirans. We are in Lisbon, but we want to see the beauty of Madeira and its people”, said Nabil Abuznaid.

"I hope we can cooperate a lot in the cultural and business areas", reinforced the Palestinian diplomat, indicating that the meeting with the president of the parliament of Madeira was the first of a cycle of meetings with various public and private entities in the region.

José Manuel Rodrigues considered, for his part, that this view opens up “good opportunities for cooperation between Madeira and Arab countries and regions”, especially in terms of tourism and business.