'Sound and Delights of Brazil' festival marks 189th Independence Day

The Brazilian Embassy in Pakistan has arranged the festival 'Sound and Delights of Brazil at a local hotel to mark its 189th Independence Day. On the special invitation of Ambassador of Brazil to Pakistan Alfredo Leoni, Brazilian Chef Henrique Timoteo and Singer Veronica Bonfim and Band came all the way from Brazil to entertain the participants of the reception with their skills.
Minister for Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh was the chief guest. Dignitaries, diplomats, politicians, representatives of civil society and other walks of life attended the festival and enjoyed the Brazilian hospitality in Pakistan. The guest enjoyed the Brazilian barbecue 'Churrasco'.
The Churrasco is a very important part of the Brazilian cuisine. The Brazilian way of making a barbecue begins with a special cutting of the meat, in a way to allow salt and seasoning easy to absorb. Meat is then cooked with natural fat, to be juicy, soft and tasty.
It is interested to note that Chief Henrique prepared the traditional cuisine with the help of a group of local people. Some ingredients which are basic both in the Pakistani and the Brazilian cuisines were like rice and wheat flour. Veronica Bonfim is forest engineer and she was accompanied by three other Brazilian musicians who came for this event. She is widely acclaimed in Brazil as one of the most successful singers of the new generation of Brazilian Popular Music and Samba. The guest at reception received the singers with tenderness and enjoyed the music.
How much importance Pakistan gives to Brazil could be judged from the fact that the Minister for Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh stayed with the Brazilian Ambassador for three hours till the end of the reception. Brazil is the 8th biggest economy of the world and the largest among all Latin American countries. Brazil international reserves have reached the unprecedented level of $346 billion.
Commenting on the recent visits of Ambassador of Brazil to Pakistan Alfredo Leoni to various business chambers of country, President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mahfooz Alahi said his personal efforts have help both countries to increase trade. "Every businessman is trying to do business with Brazilian business community", he said.
The Brazilian Embassy is also planning to increase the time period of stay in Brazilian to boost the trade volume. The plan to give relaxation to Pakistani business community has been under consideration. If it approves, the businessmen would be able to get three years multiple entry visa of Brazil. In his message, Ambassador Leoni said that being the 8th largest world consumer market, it is challenge for Pakistani businessmen to be more active and take a bigger share of the Brazilian market. Brazil is the biggest commercial partner of Pakistan in Latin America but for sure there is plenty of room to improve trade relations between the two countries.