PENANG is the face of Malaysia in the eyes of Brazil.
Brazil ambassador to Malaysia Ary Norton de Murat Quintella, in praising the state, said a candidate from Penang was chosen to fill the seat as the honorary consul because ‘Penang is the face of Malaysia’.
“Penang is a wonderful tourist destination for Brazilians,” he said during a courtesy call on Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in Komtar today.
Also present were Second Secretary Hudson Brant and honorary consul for Brazil Datuk Annie Chin.
Ary Norton said: “Brazil is very happy to have Datuk Annie Chin as the honorary consul. She is the only honorary consul that we have in Malaysia.”
On his latest visit to Penang, Ary Norton said this was not his first trip to the state.
“In July last year, after I had presented my credentials to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the first trip I made outside of Kuala Lumpur was to Penang.
“I spent the weekend in Penang, and I fell in love with the state. I am very happy to be back here,” he said.
Ary Norton said that Malaysia has become Brazil’s 12th or 13th most important trade partner this year.
“The political relations between Brazil and Malaysia have been smooth. We enjoy a fruitful relationship between two countries,” he said, praising Malaysians as incredibly friendly.
After the fruitful meeting, Ary Norton presented Chow with a book on Brazilian history as a memento; while Chow gave him a trishaw figurine and book, entitled ‘Over Penang’, which features drone photographs of Penang.
Chow thanked the ambassador and his team for their official visit. He looked forward to stronger ties between Penang and Brazil.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Law Suun Ting