PM arrives in Brazil today for three-day official visit
www.thestar.com.my BY LIM CHYE KHIM
BRASILIA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad will arrive here today for a three-day official visit during which he will have discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to further improve ties between the two countries.
“The visit is at the invitation of President Lula to enhance bilateral ties, which have been very good,” Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad said.
He said that the meeting between the two leaders tomorrow (Monday) would also be an opportunity for Dr Mahathir to follow up on outstanding matters with the new president, who took office in January.
This is the Prime Minister’s second visit to the country. Dr Mahathir, who will be accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and several government officials, last visited Brazil in 1991.
Dr Toyad said besides trade, the discussions tomorrow would cover regional and international issues, including the threat of war against Iraq and other problems in the Middle East, terrorism and globalisation.
Also expected to be brought up at the meeting between the two leaders are co-operation between the two countries in international fora, like the G15, United Nations and the World Trade Organisation, as well as regional co-operation between Asean and Mercosur, the economic grouping comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
“Our experience in economic development and how we tackle social issues and the (Asian) financial crisis are also likely to be brought up,” Dr Toyad said at a briefing here yesterday.
He said Malaysia was the biggest Asean trading partner for Brazil while Brazil was Malaysia’s second biggest trading partner in Latin America, after Mexico.
“We have three big investments here in Brazil – Supermaxx Importadora S/A – US$2mil (RM7.6mil) which distributes examination gloves, Abric S/A , manufacturer of seals for containers and trucks – US$3.67mil (RM13.9mil) – and Amaplac S/A Ind. de Madeiras – US$13.2mil (RM50.16mil) – which is into plywood manufacturing,” he said.
Major exports to Brazil include electronic integrated circuits, TV and radio parts, natural rubber, semi-conductors, computers and computer components, gloves, transformers for radio and television sets, cameras and palm oil.
Malaysia’s overall export figure for 2001 was US$347mil (RM1.31bil), while last year it rose to US$357mil (RM1.35bil).
Imports from Brazil last year amounted to US$281mil (RM1.06bil), the main items of which were sugarcane, soya bean, iron ore and military weapons.
Dr Toyad said that the various states of Brazil (the country has 26 states and one federal district) were keen to have their own joint projects with Malaysia.
Another area where Brazil was interested to go into was agricultural development, with Mardi and Embrapa (Brazilian business enterprise for agricultural research) are likely to extend their co-operation into the fields of bio-technology and bio-diversity.
He said that the two countries had signed an agreement on science and technology in 1996.
Other bilateral agreements that have been concluded between Malaysia and Brazil – the largest South American country with a population of 176 million – include an air services agreement (1995), bilateral trade agreement (1996) and, partial visa abolishment agreement (1996).
Dr Toyad said that after arriving here, the Prime Minister would attend a dinner hosted by Malaysian Ambassador Tai Kat Meng at Rumah Malaysia.
Tomorrow Dr Mahathir will proceed to Palacio do Planalto, the office of the president, for the official welcoming ceremony where he will be received by Lula.
This will be followed by a meeting between the Malaysian and Brazilian delegations and later Lula will host a state lunch for Dr Mahathir at Itamaraty Palace.
The next day Dr Mahathir will go to Sao Jose dos Campos for a visit to Embraer, the aircraft manufacturer, and Avibras, the military equipment maker.
He will leave for home on Wednesday via Buenos Aires.