‘Conditions ripe for improved SA-Brazil co-operation’

Brazilian exports to South Africa have increased by 5.2% in the past ten months to October 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, now totalling US$1.1billion, while imports from South Africa increased by 78.7% to US$624 million. “South Africa as the gateway to Africa is an extremely important market for Brazil,” said Welber Barral, foreign trade secretary of Brazil, recently in the country on a trade mission and to hold bilateral talks with the Department of Trade and Industry. “Africa from a consumer point of view alone is a global growth point of which one must take note.” With the operating environment having rapidly and visibly improved there is much interest in the continent and also many opportunities for exporters and importers. At present South Africa is Africa’s second largest importer of goods from Brazil and the third largest exporter to Brazil. “But if you look at the figures then it is clear that we can grow our trade significantly,” said Barral. “In 2010 only 295 companies out of 25000 companies exported to South Africa from Brazil. Only 1.8% of South African imports were from Brazil, and exports were only in the range of 0.7%. It is clear that we can improve this drastically.”