Ambassador of Federative Republic of Brazil, Claudio Lins has said the negative news about Pakistan forces Brazilian investors to stay away and most of the Brazilians simply don't know that many foreign companies were successfully doing business in Pakistan.
Speaking at meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said we have to coup with it by exchanging trade delegations and enhancing face-to-face interactions. He said misinformation and false information' about the safety and security of Pakistan discourages Brazilian investors to visit or invest in Pakistan which can be addressed by exchanging more trade missions.
Claudio Lins further said that Brazilian investors don't know that Pakistan is a safe country. "If Brazilian investors can invest in India and China then why not Pakistan", he added. He said that the economy of Pakistan was stabilising and with completion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, many opportunities will emerge for foreign investors from countries around the world including Brazil.
Commenting on the geographical location of Pakistan and Brazil, he said that both countries were not that much distant from each other and there was a huge potential to enhance trade. "Many of the needs of Brazil could be supplied from Pakistan while many Pakistani products having excellence can be sent to Brazil", the Envoy said.
He informed that the agriculture sector of Brazil was spread over 30 percent of Brazil's territory whose production has enhanced by focusing on improved techniques. Being the trade and economic hub of Latin America, Brazil provides sufficient opportunities to Pakistani businessmen and industrialists who can surely benefit by enhancing their trade with Brazil, a country with a huge population of 200 million.
Touching upon the renewable energy sector of Brazil, Claudio Lins said that Pakistan can benefit from Brazil's expertise and the technology being used in the renewable energy sector. "Brazilian embassy is available at your disposal if any Pakistani company is looking forward for a right partner in the renewable energy sector", he added.
President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, in his welcome remarks, pointed out that Brazil is considered to be the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with Pakistan in 1948 and to open an Embassy in Karachi in 1952. Similarly, Pakistan also chose Brazil to open its first Embassy in Latin America in Rio de Janeiro in 1952.
He said that the bilateral trade relations between Pakistan and Brazil were based on the trade of various commodities. During Fiscal Year 2015-16, Pakistan's exports to Brazil stood at $46 million and its imports improved drastically to $206 million, indicating trade balance in favour of Brazil. He was of the opinion that there was a huge potential to enhance bilateral trade relations between Brazil and Pakistan as possibilities of joint ventures in various feasible sectors including halal food, information technology and poultry exist in abundance for both the countries.
He informed the Brazilian Envoy that Karachi, which is the economic hub of Pakistan, offers profitable investment opportunities and added facilities for investment and joint ventures to Brazilian Investors. The city contributes more than 65 percent revenue to the national exchequer and was an attractive place for Brazilian investors, who can surely earn maximum profits by either setting up their businesses or undertaking joint ventures.
Shamim Firpo said that Karachi Chamber wants to promote business, mutual understanding and friendly relations between the business communities of Pakistan and Brazil. "We also want to promote Brazilian investment in Pakistan and do everything for the development of Pakistan-Brazilian business cooperation", he added.
Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President Muhammad Younus Soomro, Chairman Diplomatic Missions & Embassies Liaison Sub-Committee Altaf A. Ghaffar, Former President KCCI Majyd Aziz and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present on the occasion.
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