Pakistan and Brazil have huge potential to boost trade and business ties-Envoy

MULTAN, Oct 29th: Ambassador of Brazil Claudio Raja Gabalia Lins has said that Brazil is keen to strengthen government-to government and private-to-private sector relations in larger interest of the both countries. Talking to the member of MCCI  chaired by its President Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan, he said that Brazilian economy is on the rise therefore Pakistani businessmen should avail the available opportunities to the maximum. He said that Pakistani businessmen should step into joint ventures in the fields of sports goods, instruments, food items, fertilizers, fruits & vegetables and renewable energy . He said that Brazilian embassy in Pakistan is ready to facilitate the Pakistani businessmen in this regard. He also called to remove the communication gap to give a quantum jump to the mutual trade.Ambassador said that Pakistan and Brazil have huge potential to boost trade and business ties and urged for enhancing the trade volume between both of the countries.To a question he said ,"We have some reservations on BRICS because  collapse in commodity prices has threatened the other BRICS nations,Corruption is still endemic within its member states,India & China Both countries are especially vulnerable to technological changes that bring automation into the workplace on a larger scale. The World Bank estimates that 68 percent of all existing jobs in India are “at risk” from automation. In China, the figure is 77 percent,he added.
Mr.Claudio said that Pakistan’s exports with Brazil is just $71 million, which was very low with seventh largest economy of the world and both the countries have huge perspectives for increasing trade and cooperation in the fields of sports goods, instruments, food items, fertilizers, fruits and vegetables cotton, textile and dairy sector, said Claudio Lins.The Ambassador of Brazil said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is considers being project of huge significance for connecting Pakistan with world market including European Union and other markets of developed countries and it would prove a game changer, What a pity that United States and its neighbouring countries were not aware of this project due to lack of communication.
The Brazilian ambassador said that the Pakistani economy was stabilizing and with the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), many opportunities will emerge for foreign investors from all around the world, including Brazil. He said that Brazilian embassy in Pakistan was ready to facilitate Pakistani businessmen in this regard, and also called to remove the communication gap to give a quantum jump to the mutual trade.
Touching upon the renewable energy sector of Brazil, Lins said that Pakistan can benefit from Brazil’s expertise and the technology being used in the renewable energy sector. “Brazilian embassy is available at your disposal if any Pakistani company is looking forward for a right partner in the renewable energy sector,” said the envoy.
“Brazil is meeting 42% of its energy needs through renewable resources and is ready to help Pakistan generate energy through wind, solar, ethanol, biomass and other sources,” the ambassador said.He also added that his country was ready to share knowledge in this regard with Pakistan.Brazil Ambassador Claudio Raja Gabaglia Lins has offered Pakistan cooperation in producing renewable energy and improving agricultural productivity as the South American nation has made rapid progress in these areas.Apart from clean energy, Brazil has achieved robust growth in the agriculture and livestock sector.Brazil was the seventh largest economy of the world and the second largest in Latin America, he said and suggested that Pakistan could achieve better results for its economy by ramping up cooperation with the South American country.He noted that many Pakistani products had an excellent potential in the Brazilian market and businessmen should step up efforts for trade promotion.
He cited increased direct contacts between private sectors of the two countries as the best approach to explore all untapped areas for potential cooperation.
The envoy assured businessmen that his embassy would provide all possible support in the search for business opportunities in Brazil.
Earlier, MCCI President Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan revealed that Brazil’s trade with the world stood at $369 billion  with exports valuing $191 billion, but its trade with Pakistan was worth a mere $300 million.“This is not commensurate with the real potential of both countries, which are doing trade in limited goods; they should focus on trade diversification to achieve better results,” he said.
Malik insisted that many Pakistani products such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, sports goods and agro-products including basmati rice, pulses, fruits and vegetables could find a good market in Brazil and the embassy should play its role in highlighting their potential to Brazilian consumers.He highlighted poultry meat, agricultural machinery, orange juice, tea, spices, coffee, auto parts, leather goods, granites, electrical appliances and handicrafts as other potential areas of mutual cooperation.
He asked the two sides to encourage frequent exchange of trade delegations and organise single-country exhibitions to push bilateral trade and economic relations up to the real potential.Malik also briefed the ambassador about the investment opportunities in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy and urged him to persuade Brazilian investors to visit Pakistan for seeking business and investment opportunities in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and other areas of interest.He said that Mr.Yasin Butt and Muhammad Farooq were available in the embassy to facilitate the traders and providing any information even in Urdu.“We need to find ways to enhance our exports to Brazil which can also help in closing the gap between imports and exports. Pakistan’s major exports to Brazil include bed linens, electro-medical apparatus, sports goods and hosiery items etc”, Malik Asrar Ahmed Awan. Later Begum Romana Tanvir Sheikh,Senior Vice President presented a vote of thanks to the guest.