The President of Federative Republic of Brazil Dilma Rousseff Participated in Business Conference “Brazil – Bulgaria: Sustainable Partnerships” organized by BCCI

The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov opened in Sofia the first business conference “Brazil – Bulgaria: Sustainable Partnerships”, organized jointly by BCCI and the Embassy of Brazil in Sofia. In his welcoming remarks Mr. Simeonov noted the similarities and differences between the two countries regarding their achievements in the polar expeditions to Antarctica, astronautics and football. There are opportunities for future bilateral cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources, mining, machine building. Tourism also stands out as a new opportunity for business partners to find common ground. It is a sector in which the interests of Bulgaria and Brazil complement each other and don’t compete. 

During the preliminary talks, the Brazilian side expressed interest in Bulgaria’s experience in agriculture and especially in fertilizers production. Mr. Simeonov emphasized Brazil’s progress in the field of IT and scientific servicing of agriculture, from which Bulgarian farmers can learn. Tsvetan Simeonov welcomed the growing interest of Bulgarian companies to the forum. Thus, they are granted the unique opportunity to find potential Brazilian partners among the companies participating in the conference.

In the presence of the Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil, Fernando Pimentel and the Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism of Bulgaria, Traycho Traykov, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil signed a Cooperation Agreement. As a result of it, trade cooperation between Bulgarian and Brazilian businesses in the organization of joint congresses and events is expected to intensify, guaranteeing the security of bilateral business relations and opportunities for quick resolution of disputes in the field of arbitration between the two countries. 

Brazil is Bulgaria’s entry to MERCOSUR (the largest interstate agreement in South America), and Bulgaria is Brazil’s entry to the EU. We should make a political commitment to reverse the downward trend of bilateral trade, the President of Federative Republic of Brazil Dilma Rousseff said at the business conference “Brazil – Bulgaria: Sustainable Partnerships”. We should use the emotional character of this visit to turn it into concrete opportunities for cooperation, into mutual benefits”, she added. The cooperation agreement we signed gives us an opportunity for solid bilateral ties.

“The world faces a very deep economic crisis. Developed countries that have not found the balance between the respective tax instruments to stimulate economic development are at a crossroads. Many times what creates the crisis is prescribed as its cure, but we rely on a stable domestic market, job creation, stimulation of domestic demand, infrastructure investments, social policy and agriculture. We rely on stable and strict regulating frameworks for Brazil’s financial and banking system, with many requirements to the capitals of our banks. We have also built a tax system that corresponds to the idea to reduce Brazil’s debt against GDP. We are not immuned to worsening of the crisis, but we are making efforts to maintain this macroeconomic basis and not to compromise growth and social policies, which are the main guarantees for our success,” underlined President Rousseff.

“The biggest threat comes from Greece’s condition; solidarity from all EU countries is required. Yesterday together with the European Commission we highlighted how important the EU is to Brazil – to defend truth and peace, to people in the post-war period – how important it is to maintain the achievement the EU is. The whole world, not only the Euro zone, needs stability. Brazil will always be a partner and will do everything possible to bring the crisis to an end as painlessly and quickly as possible. Brazil will be a steadfast opportunity for Bulgarian products and services, if your traditional partners withdraw. We maintain partner relations that have not fulfilled their full potential,” the Brazilian president commented. “Regional integration processes in which we participate give us an opportunity to use creative approaches to production integration”, she said. According to her, bilateral relations may go beyond trade relations and use the opportunities provided by agriculture, energy production, technological cooperation. 

“Brazil wishes to start a new stage in its trade, economic and diplomatic relations with Bulgaria and its people”, Fernando Pimentel, Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil said at the Brazil – Bulgaria business forum. 

05.10.2011