Brazilian entrepreneurs headed by minister Furlan arrive in Russia

On Monday, May 19, a delegation of Brazilian businessmen headed by Luis Fernando Furlan, the Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, began their visit to Russia.

The three-day agenda of the visit includes meetings in some Russian ministries and agencies, and with Russian business representatives.

Luis Fernando Furlan has told RIA Novosti that the major goal of the visit was to expand bilateral trade and economic ties. During the visit, our side intends to offer Russian partners some products that are new to the Russian market. In his words, the Brazilian delegation includes 54 experts representing different economic sectors, industrial enterprises, organisations and institutions.

The most important point on the agenda will be recognition of Russia as a market economy, the minister stressed. Besides, we are ready to review some anti-dumping measures against Russian products in the wake of introduced quotas for Brazilian meat supplies, added Luis Fernando Furlan.

The Brazilian embassy in Moscow noted that after a sharp slowdown of Russia-Brazil trade and economic interaction in the early 1990s, bilateral trade ties resumed their growth in 1995 exceeding one billion dollars in 1997. Brazil mainly exported raw sugar to Russia, which made 80 percent of its entire export. Apart from that, Brazil provided Russia with coffee, tobacco and meat.

However, in 2000 Russia introduced protective measures in support of its sugar beetroot producers - 40-percent seasonal duties and quotes for imported raw sugar. As a result, Brazilian import almost halved and Russia went down from the 13th to the 22nd position among Brazil's major trade partners.

In spring 2003, Russia introduced quotes for imported beef, pork and poultry, which also hit Brazil being an active supplier of these products to Russian market.