Brasília, June 3, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Ambassador from Japan, Takahiko Horimura, affirmed that his country has the firm intention of strengthening trade relations with Brazil and perceives a very promising future in this exchange. Horimura, who just arrived in Brasília, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Development, Luiz Fernando Furlan. On his way out, the Ambassador said that the meeting with Furlan marks the start of enhanced bilateral trade relations.

Brazilian exports to Japan totalled US$ 2.3 billion in 2003, as against US$ 2.12 billion in 2002, corresponding to a growth of 10.1%. Sales to Japan represented 3.5% of Brazil's overall exports last year.

Most of what Japan buys from Brazil consists of raw aluminum, iron alloy, cellulose, orange juice, wood, nickel cathodes, hydrocarbons, hides, skins, and ethyl alcohol. Among the basic products sold to Japan are iron ore, chicken, soybeans, coffee beans, leaf tobacco, and kaolin.

In March a large group of Japanese businessmen participated in the "Brazil-Japan Business Opportunites" seminar in Rio de Janeiro.

Reporter: Lourenço Melo
Translator: David Silberstein