Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s trip to South Korea and Japan, this week, may bring about business opportunities for other South American countries as well.
This is the opinion of the Professor of International Affairs of the University of Brasília, José Flávio Sombra Saraiva.
“Brazil is the only South American country that has the current right conditions to pull this chain of investments for the whole region, expanding commercial partnerships,” he said in an interview to Radiobrás’ Rádio Nacional.
According to Saraiva, some of Brazil’s neighbors have been through periods of economic hardship, and President Lula’s trip to Asia shall expand South American market.
He emphasizes the political importance of the trip, considering the efforts of both Brazil and Japan to join the United Nations Security Council.
For the professor, the cooperation agreements being signed by these countries already represent a result of Lula’s trip.
“There are several Brazilian companies there, and Korean and Japanese businesses here in Brazil, that benefit from these agreements financing, especially in the infrastructure area.”
He also said that to look for partnerships in other countries “is the only way to expand the presence of Brazilian companies.”
According to Saraiva, Brazil and Japan used to have an economic exchange in the 70s and 80s, and, now, both countries’ current conditions enable a reestablishment of this cooperation.
“Japan has deficiencies in the energy field, and also needs grains. The Japanese market is willing to increase purchase of Brazilian products.”
Agência Brasil