Amid a severe energy crisis in Pakistan, Brazil could extend technical cooperation particularly in the field of hydro-electricity. This was stated by the Brazilian Ambassador Alfredo Leoni at a talk on Pakistan-Brazil relations held on Monday.
“Pakistan has potential, which needs to be explored,” Leoni said, adding that both countries could further strengthen ties through trade.
Highlighting the scope for growth in bilateral business ties between the two countries, the envoy said that this is the age of trade. Exports to Brazil from Pakistan are worth $80 million out of a trade balance of $250 million. “We can double the trade with Pakistan,” he added. Statistically speaking, Brazil is the fifth largest country in terms of territory and sixth largest economy with $2.5 trillion Gross Domestic Product.
“Technical cooperation is a possibility and we are working into it,” he said adding that his country excels in sugar-cane cultivation and sugar production. Brazil invited experts from Pakistan last year and a Pakistani delegation would travel in March and then in April to see mechanisms of sugar-cane and other agriculture products.
He said that Brazil also has strong defence relations with Pakistan and that Pakistan has a military attaché in Brasilia. He hoped more students from Pakistan would pursue studies in his country adding that their experience in health sector could also be very beneficial.
Discussing the problems in channelising aid in case of natural disasters, he said, “We always share our contribution through government and international aid agencies, however the World Food Programme was facing difficulty in finding partners to bring food items to Pakistan.”
He added that transport never should exceed more than seven per cent of the food price but here it was 100 to 70 per cent.
Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) Acting President Dr Maqsoodul Hassan Nuri said that Brazil is successful due to continuation of policies, no enmity with neighbours and social policies of successive governments. It is a county with great mineral resources and is pursuing economic diplomacy.
Giving background about the ties between the two countries, Leoni said that Brazil was the first Latin American country to recognise Pakistan in 1948 and also the first from the southern continent to open its embassy in Karachi in 1952.
Over the past 30 years, Brazil has become a full-fledged democracy with an electronic voting system for all posts right from mayor to the president. Brazil embarked upon a “zero-hunger” programme and in three years, brought down poverty in the country to below seven per cent of the poverty line.
The talk was organised by IPRI.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2012.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ