Brasília, January 9, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, announced that, beginning January 25, a Brazilian delegation will be traveling to countries in Asia. The purpose is to export Brazilian beef to countries like Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Thailand, which, as a result of the mad cow disease in the United States, are avoiding purchases of the product from that country.

Japan alone is responsible for the purchase of 130 thousand tons of meat from the US.

The Minister recalled, too, that around 1.3 million jobs can be generated as a result of the increase in agrobusiness sales. (DAS)