Agência Brasil
New Delhi – In a speech to Brazilian and Indian business leaders, president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared: "It is time for Brazilian businessmen to prospect for new markets and get to work on exporting their goods to other places. They should complain less and sell more!"
Speaking without notes, Lula said Brazilian companies need to invest in technology and quality, they need to be more creative, bold and not be afraid of becoming multinational corporations. He pointed out that India has already opened a commercial office in Brazil and is looking for business opportunities – something Brazilians have to do in India, he said. The president also announced that Brazil will have a pavilion at the New Delhi International Exposition in November.
In a message to the business community of India, Lula said Brazil wants a strategic relationship and has a stable growing economy that is being run by a government that has clear goals. He also said there are many infrastructure investment opportunities, especially in transportation (highways and railroads) and energy.
"My administration is not performing miracles, we are just doing what has to be done," said Lula. "The Brazil risk premium has fallen from 2,400, when I took office, to 400 today. Inflation estimates were running at 40% when I took office, today inflation is around 6%. Brazil is on the verge of renewed growth, according to all the experts," said the president, adding that his administration was committed to honoring contracts.
At the moment bilateral Brazil – India trade is running at US$1.2 billion annually. It is the opinion of both Indian and Brazilian trade officials that bilateral trade could be US$3 billion in three years time.
Lula declared that in his opinion bilateral trade between India and Brazil is now at about 10% of what it could be, adding that geographical distance is not a problem.
"If a Portuguese ship could get to India 500 years ago, and circumnavigate all of Africa to do it, we can certainly do the same. This is a question of political will," concluded Lula.
