Brazil sees opportunities to diversify exports to Russia
Brazil aims to increase the presence of its products in the Russian market, Brazilian Ambassador to Russia Rodrigo Baena Soares told Sputnik.
“I was talking to businessmen here and have heard some good ideas for diversifying our exports to include other products. It is true that the sanctions also present an opportunity,” Baena Soares told Sputnik at the Prodexpo international agri-food fair in Moscow.
He specified that, in particular, Brazil could diversify its supplies to Russia through agricultural machinery and offer solutions for Russian agriculture in this context.
Baena Soares indicated that currently, there is a “still small” percentage of equipment and machinery that Brazil already exports to Russia and expressed his hope to increase the supply of such products.
“I think it would be important for us to have an even more balanced trade,” he stressed.
He said Brazil and Russia could cooperate in the plastics industry and pet food production.
“We obtained authorization last year for the export of flours to Russia, which are products of animal recycling origin,” he emphasized.
According to the ambassador, Brazil has a fairly competitive economy and a fairly complex industry.
“Thus, we have conditions to replace many exporters from other countries,” he pointed out.
Likewise, Baena Soares communicated that Brazil will participate this year in both the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum hosted by the Russian city of Vladivostok.
“I will be there, for sure. We will see who comes from Brazil, but we are always represented at the St. Petersburg forum; it is very important. Also, I will be at the Vladivostok forum in September,” said Baena Soares.
He specified that at the moment, “it is a little bit early” to talk about who exactly, besides the embassy, will represent Brazil in both events, but expressed his hope that there will be “an important Brazilian presence”.
“We participated last year. I was there with the president of our Export and Investment Promotion Agency [APEX], and we will surely be present once again,” he stressed.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held from June 14-17 this year, while the Eastern Economic Forum, from September 5-6.
The Prodexpo fair is held annually, and this year opened its doors in Moscow on February 6.
The current edition of the event hosts 2,027 companies from 35 countries.
Five food companies are participating in Brazil’s national stand at Prodexpo 2023: Minerva Foods, LP Export, Frankfurt Trading, Beatrice Peanuts, and GBC Trading.
With information from Sputnik
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