São Paulo – The Planning minister of Iraq, Ali Baban, is in Brazil to boost political and trade relations between his government and the country. The minister visited São Paulo, Brasília and Rio de Janeiro and should also visit the interior of the state of São Paulo, according to information disclosed by the Brazilian Foreign Office (Itamaraty). In the Federal Capital, Baban met with the secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Samuel Pinheiro Guimarães, and spoke to him about the message brought from high executives in the government of his country: the desire of boosting relations with Brazil, in the political and economic areas, so that they may return to the same levels as in the 1980s.
For this reason, the minister is developing a broad agenda in the country. He also met with the minister of Planning of Brazil, Paulo Renato, and with representatives of carmakers, of the food industry and with the president of oil company Petrobras, José Sérgio Gabrielli. Ali Baban’s agenda also included meetings at the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuel Agency (ANP), the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan). He is still also scheduled to visit aircraft factory Embraer, in São José dos Campos.
The Iraqi minister informed the Ministry of Foreign Relations that he is in the country as an envoy of Iraqi prime minister Nuri al-Maliki. The Arab country, in truth, is already expanding trade relations with Brazil. Last year, for example, exports from Brazil to Iraq totalled US$ 106.6 million. In the previous year, in 2007, they had totalled US$ 90.1 million. That is, there was 18% growth. In the 1980s, however, trade relations were much higher. In 1989, Brazil had revenues of US$ 343 million with sales to the Iraqi market.
In the 1980s the list of main products exported by Brazil to Iraq included lorries, rebar, paper, tractors, aluminium, meats and sugar. Last year, however, food headed the list, ahead of lorries. The main Brazilian export products to Iraq were meats and sugar. Sales also included a great number of tractors. Iraq also exports to Brazil, and last year the country’s sales grew significantly. Brazil imported US$ 1.18 billion in Iraqi products, mainly oil. Purchases had been US$ 271 million in 2007.
Minister Ali Baban is in Brazil in the company of a team of advisors. One of them, Farouq Ibrahim Al Hachimi, visited the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply early this week to discuss cooperation. He met with the Programs director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Gerardo Fontelles, and showed interest in research about the semiarid and technologies for the cultivation of sugarcane, soy and maize. He showed interest in signing memoranda of understanding in the agricultural area.
*Translated by Mark Ament
