Agência CNI*
Porto Alegre – The share of high and medium high technologic intensity goods in exports from the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul has increased in the last ten years, rising from 25.1% to 37.9% of total foreign sales. Last year, those exports generated US$ 4.5 billion. The main contributing items were office material, computers, machinery and mechanical equipment, and motor vehicles.
The data were taken from a survey disclosed yesterday (26) by the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs). “This increase reflects the decision of the industrial sector of positioning itself in a more strategic manner in such a highly competitive scenario,” explained the president at the Fiergs, Paulo Tigre.
Last year, exports yielded US$ 5.3 billion, and were predominantly of foodstuffs, beverages, leather, shoes, textiles, and wood. “The state of Rio Grande do Sul has several features that can and should be tapped, in order to potentialize future results,” said Tigre. Foreign sales of non-industrialised products stood at 17.6%, reaching US$ 2.1 billion, and the highlights were soy and tobacco leaves.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
