From the Newsroom
São Paulo – A business mission from Japan should be arriving in Brazil in the first half of February with the intention of buying meat, fruit, and eggs. "In the contact we had with Japanese businessmen and government authorities, I found a favourable and respectful environment that will result in greater Brazilian export to that market," explained the Agriculture Ministry Livestock Defence secretary Maçao Tadano yesterday (27/01).
Tadano is ahead of the delegation that is negotiating opening the Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese markets to Brazilian products.
To take advantage of the favourable moment in the Asian countries, due to mad cow in the United States, and to avian flu in the region, minister Roberto Rodrigues is stimulating Brazilian businessmen to participate in the largest agribusiness fair in Asia, Foodex-Japan.
The fair will take place in Tokyo between March 9 and 12 this year. Around 100,000 people interested in buying and selling agribusiness products should participate in the event. Businessmen interested in being present at the fair will count on Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (Apex) support.
Eggs and mangos
In Tokyo, Tadano participated in negotiations with the Japanese Agriculture Ministry and local businessmen for opening that market to Brazilian mangos and other tropical fruit, as well as flowers.
"We provided all the information about steps taken for mango hydrothermic treatment. After over two decades of negotiations, I believe that the first shipment of this fruit will take place in the near future. I am optimistic."
Although Japan is self sufficient in egg production, Japanese businessmen have shown interest in importing the Brazilian product to supply the market in Singapore, which consumes 100 million fresh eggs per month, of which 70% are imported.
In the case of chicken, Japan has no restrictions to Brazilian product import. For this reason, growth perspectives in the Japanese market are concrete, emphasized the secretary. "Our idea is to promote meetings between businessmen in both countries and increase trade."
According to Tadano, the Japanese mission to Brazil should increase the speed of market opening to Brazilian cattle beef. With the restriction to US beef import, prices, which were already at US$ 37 per kilogram rose by 5% last weekend.
"Brazil can supply the Japanese market and we are proceeding with the process for liberation." The secretary explained that Japan currently has an annual consumption of 930,000 tonnes of cattle beef and imports around 560,000 tonnes, being 240,000 from the USA.
"There is a favourable climate for Brazil to expand these products," pointed out Tadano.
After an intense agenda in Japan, the Brazilian mission – also including representatives from the cattle, pork, and chicken meat sectors, as well as technicians from the Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Ministry and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) – will today (28/01) be heading to Seoul, South Korea, and on February 2 to Taiwan. The delegation is scheduled to return to Brazil on February 4.
