The Vietnam – Brazil business forum themed “New prospect of trade and investment in agriculture” took place in Hanoi on September 16, on the occasion of the ongoing visit by Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply Blairo Maggi.
In his opening remarks, Brazilian Ambassador Marco Antonio Diniz Brandao said the forum enabled the respective business communities to strengthen trade, investment and agricultural partnerships, thereby further tightening Vietnam-Brazil partnership.
Secretary General of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Pham Thi Thu Hang said two-way trade between the two countries hit 3.9 billion USD in past years, with Vietnam exporting telephones, computer spare parts, seafood, and apparel, and importing corn, soybeans, wheat, and garment materials.
Brazil is currently a vibrant economy in the BRICS group of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and an important gateway for Vietnam to access other economies in South America, she said, adding that the government will facilitate exchanges between Vietnamese and Brazilian businesses.
Minister Maggi said agriculture now accounts for over 46 percent of Brazil’s exports and 21.5 percent of the gross domestic product. The country boasts modern infrastructure, abundant land and water resources, and the government is encouraging investment in farming with orientations to sustainable development.
The forum was co-hosted by the VCCI and the Brazilian embassy in Vietnam./.