Dilma Rousseff - Brazil's President

 

Brazil’s President, Dilma Rousseff, is going to China with a view to opening up the market of this Asian country for Brazilian products. It will be Rousseff’s first international business trip. Since last year China has become Brazil’s largest trading partner and the challenge facing Brazil is to diversify its exports to China. The groundwork has already been laid with an agreement to trade in local currencies and not the international trade currency, the US dollar.

Traditionally Brazil’s exports to China have been commodity based and so the Brazilian government is looking to find niches for Brazilian products with higher added value. The Brazilian Footwear Association, Abicalcados, started to touch the Chinese market back in October 2007, with high quality footwear with latest designs freighted by air to China. The spokes person for the Brazilian presidency, Rodrigo Baena stated, “There has been progress in terms of meat exports and with this upcoming visit, we hope for a further opening of the market.”

President Rousseff will leave Brazil on April 8th and arrive in Beijing on April 11th. She will participate in a seminar with Chinese entrepreneurs and will have a meeting with China’s President, Hu Jintao. She will also meet Prime Minister Wen Jibao and the President of the National People’s Assembly, Wu Banggun.

As well as the official state visit, Rousseff will participate in the Summit of the BRIC countries which include Brazil, Russia, India and China. She will also visit a technology center in the city of Xian. The President is due to arrive back in Brazil on April 17th.

Source: Exclusivo Brazil Edited and translated from Portuguese by Richard Smith