Rio, 9/15/2003 (Agência Brasil-ABr) - With the objective of boosting bilateral trade, the Brazil - Iran Chamber of Commerce will be inaugurated today in Rio de Janeiro by the Brazilian ambassador to Iran, Cesario Melatonio.

According to the president of the new chamber, Sergio Costa e Silva, the goal is to double trade to US$1 billion over the next two years. At the moment, bilateral trade is less than US$500 million, with Brazil running a surplus of over US$400 million.

One reason Brazil has such a big surplus with Iran is that it does not purchase that country's main export product, petroleum (over 82% of Iran's exports are in petroleum). At the moment, Brazil's main export from Iran is carpets. Brazil exports soybeans, sugar, corn and meat. (AB)