Agência Brasil
Davos (Switzerland) – Development minister Luiz Fernando Furlan stated that the main objective of his participation in the World Economic Forum was to attract investment, targeting job generation in Brazil.
In an exclusive interview to Agência Brasil, the minister stated that an opportunity like Davos is rare. In few occasions is it possible to join so many important personalities from around the world.
Furlan recalled that last year he was at the forum to "curb a problem." In 2003, recalled the minister, mistaken forecasts as to how the economy would be driven generated great mistrust in Brazil. "This year I have come to clarify that the economy is on track and has all it needs to work out, especially for those interested in investing in the country," he stressed.
Luiz Fernando Furlan points out that the Davos event makes it possible to restart important international negotiations, of which Brazil is part, among them some World Trade Organization (WTO) topics. "While in Cancún, Mexico (location of the last WTO ministerial meeting), the climate was frosty, here in Davos it is tropical. We have chances to move on in various points," he explained.
To the minister, the World Economic Forum also serves to strengthen ties with other countries. "Some of our ideas have spread and gained body," he said. As examples, Furlan mentioned Egypt, which together with Brazil and South Africa, integrates the G-3, a group designed to fight against protectionist practices by rich nations in the Agricultural area.
Advances
The development minister considered his meeting with Swiss minister Joseph Deiss, who said he was open to talk about topics that might favour Brazil, such as the one forecasting the reduction of European country subsidies to export, good.
Furlan explained, however, that the Europeans demand that Brazilian government purchases be more transparent, and that a reasonably formal attempt at trade simplification be made. "When compared to the result of Cancún, this openness to dialogue is positive," he completed, then explaining that there may not be, in any way, subsidies for commodity production – with little added value – disguised as support to producers of certain typical local cultural items, such as "Swiss cheese or Swiss Alp chocolate."
"Thanks to the Davos structure," Furlan said he could speak to representatives from the United States and discuss trade problems, such as shrimp. The American organization that controls the area is barring Brazilian seafood. They state that Brazilian producers are charging prices below cost, so as to sell to the United States and weaken local producers, insinuating dumping.
