São Paulo – The government of Brazil and industry discussed today (14), in the city of São Paulo, a set of measures aimed at recovering the exports of manufactured goods. The objective is to halt competition with imported goods on the domestic market, while improving company competitiveness aboard.
This was one of the main questions discussed at the meeting that counted on the presence of the minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Fernando Pimentel, and of Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) president Luciano Coutinho.
According to Pimentel, up to mid April, the second edition of the Policy for Productive Development (PDP) will be defined to guide productive activity in the long run.
He said the result of the talks between the 14 private sector and 15 government sector representatives were "excellent". "Many suggestions by the businessmen should be added to the efforts that the government has been making in defence of productive chains."
Pimentel did not forward that the actions will be part of the PDP, but signalled that they should seek technological innovation and greater qualification of labour. Before the announcement of the new PDP, the government should continue hearing leaders in the private sector.
The minister’s expectation is that this year at least a US$ 10-billion trade surplus should be reached. "We cannot remain passive. We have to advance in the direction of defending our industry and recovering the space we lost in manufactured product exports."
*Translated by Mark Ament
