Guyana and Brazil have been doing business but not enough, Ambassador Luiz Gilberto Seixas de Andre said on Thursday, pointing out that trade could be better and more balanced.
The US$17 million in trade between the two countries recorded last year was “a small amount”, according to the Ambassador. He said Brazil’s economy is growing and there is potential for Guyana to increase exports to markets there, beginning with strong business relations in the State of Roraima.
Brazil currently dominates trade with Guyana with exports here soaring within the past few years; local exporters are yet to break into the Brazilian markets in a big way. Ambassador de Andre acknowledged this saying there is room for improvement.
The Brazilian Ambassador delivered the feature address at a business luncheon organized by Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Ltd (GMSA) and the point he made about local exporters breaking into the markets was picked up by President of GMSA, Ramesh Dookoo, who said local businesses need sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) related assistance as they seek to accelerate relations with Brazil.
Dookoo said also that businesses here are eager to increase trade, while pointing out that the Brazilian company SEBRAE needs a focal point person in Guyana. SEBRAE, which is currently here to participate in GuyExpo, was also represented at the forum and there was talk of assistance being offered to micro and small businesses here.
But on the issue of deepening trade, the Ambassador noted that a bilateral meeting will take place in Guyana some time this month with the aim of identifying concrete steps to increase Guyanese exports to Brazil. He said the prospects for stronger business relations are better since the opening of the Takutu Bridge.
Recent statistics compiled by Brazil revealed that since the bridge opened Lethem is receiving around 300 cars from Boa Vista and Manaus every day and about 1,200 at weekends. But the Ambassador said the bridge is more than an overland passage for cars and trucks, and is “an opportunity to do more business”. He said too that the paving of the Linden-Lethem road would compliment the bridge resulting in further possibilities for more collaboration.
Brazil is interested in the economic integration of South American countries, he said, adding that the paved road would be part of the creation of a far-reaching road network in the continent.
He emphasized that Brazil also wants to invest in Guyana, particularly in the areas of agriculture and energy.
On the agricultural front, he said, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) is currently in Guyana collaborating in the production of soya bean, rice and corn in the savannahs. According to him, questions have been asked as to why there is an increased focus on agriculture and the answer is simple. He stated that agriculture offers numerous opportunities for the development of associated activities, adding that potential areas include food additives; preservatives; fertilizers; manufacturing and maintenance of agricultural machinery and fuel among others. The ambassador pointed out that Guyana could benefit from Brazil’s agricultural experience, adding that his country was able to significantly boost that sector of its economy.
Guyana has the potential to be a significant food producer for South America, including Brazil, as well as the Caribbean and more distant markets, he opined. All this country needs, he said, is a well-set strategy to attract investment and mutually profitable partnerships based on technology transfer and sustainable development.
Edileuza Sette of SEBRAE, a private sector company in Brazil, said that her company is willing to offer support to businesses here. She spoke of an upcoming small business fair in Brazil in November saying that booths would be made available to local companies that are interested in participating.
