Brazil Country Day, the Biggest Economy of Latin America Attracted Attention

• 19.09.2019
• News

Economical cooperation opportunities in Brazil, the biggest country of Latin America were discussed in Brazil Country Day and Investment Opportunities Seminar organized by Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI). Numerous industrialists and business people watched the event hosted by Bekir Yelken, ICI Board of Directors Member in Odakule Fazıl Zobu Assembly Hall for which Paulo Roberto França, Istanbul Consul General of Brazil participated.

Bekir Yelden, ICI Board of Directors Member who made the launching speech of the event said that Brazil is the fifth biggest country of the world both in terms of its population and square measure and stated that it comes to the forefront as the fifth biggest country of Latin America. Recording that Brazil has gained significant improvements in especially automotive industry and infrastructure modernization as the result of the economic liberalization works of Brazil in 1990s which is the 8th biggest economy of the world globally, Yelken reminded that Brazil which has an important role in underground and above-ground richness and in manufacturing product of export and added value is one of the BRIC countries referring to the fastest developing countries. 

Bekir Yelken
ICI Board of Directors Member

Providing information that export activities to Brazil is of 489 million dollars and export activities from Brazil is of 3.2 billion dollar in 2018, Yelken mentioned that even though the bilateral trade volume which realized as 3.7 billion dollars is an increasing trend, it is way under its actual potential. Yelken expressed that developing commercial and economical relations is of increasing importance since foreign trade deficit is mostly against Türkiye.

Yelken underlined that Türkiye-Brazil economical relations which have been at the low level since today because of the geographical distance and unfamiliarity between two countries has a great potential if companies and establishments operating in the same fields establish cooperation and carry out common manufacturing and marketing activities. Yelken stated that Turkish business people’s getting more familiar with Brazil and having active participation in the subject will have a significant role in the increase of the trade volume between two countries and correcting the balance which has minus value for Türkiye.

Pointing out that close economical cooperation to be established between Brazil and Türkiye will enable Turkish firms to benefit from MERCOSUR (South Common Market) for which Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela are members and the broad market to emerge, Yelken recorded that Brazil firms will have the opportunity to take place in the neighbor and close country markets over Türkiye.

Reminding that while both counties have taken place among the biggest 20 economies of the world, Brazil has ranked as the eight one, Yelken stated that what is more important here is that both countries have products complementing each other and both countries are in need of having more shares out of the other country geographies and taking place in new markets. Stating that major business opportunities have emerged in each field where Türkiye has the position of being a powerful manufacturer and Brazil has the position of being a major raw material supplier, Yelken continued his worlds that they are strongly believe that the commercial relations between these two countries can get to the higher levels.

Paulo Roberto França
Istanbul Consul General of Brazil

Paulo Roberto França, Istanbul Consul General of Brazil stated that ICI Members have a special place in Turkish economy and mentioned about the significance of the event organized.

França said that the formal diplomatic relations between Brazil and Türkiye date back to the Friendship and Trade Agreement signed between Brazil and Ottoman Empire of which 160th year was celebrated in 2018. Stating that Türkiye is really loved by Brazil people, França recorded that Türkiye has experienced economic, technological and social growth. França mentioned about the generous approach of Türkiye towards the immigrants and added that it has a significant role in world politics.

Drawing attention that there are similarities between two countries, França mentioned about that both of them provide similar approaches to the global issues. Expressing that as countries which have regional significance, they have to stands against similar challenges, França told that they are intended to have more say in more fair and democratic world order. Reminding that Türkiye is a loved tourism country by Brazil people, França informed that 80 thousands of tourist visited Türkiye in the previous year. Mentioning that Türkiye has a strong infrastructure, França stated that there are numerous fields to cooperate but they need to diversify the working areas.

Then Ramazan Kısa, Deputy General Director of Ministry of Trade, Felipe Flores Pinto, Istanbul Deputy Consul General and Luciana F. Bittar, Executive Partner of L. Bittar Partners made presentatçions about the economical structure in Brazil and the fields to invest in the panel titled Türkiye-Brazil Trade, Cooperation and Investment Opportunities.

Handan Eren, EAP Anadolu Etaip Penkon Gıda ve Tarım Ürünleri CFO, Serkan Güleç, Plastik ve Metal Board of Directors President, Salih Kahraman, Quality and Technic Group Director of Kordsa Teknik Tekstil and Armağan Tişli, Commercial Coordinator of Aktaş Holding shared thair experiences as the firms operating in Brazil in the panel titled Experiences of Turkish Firms in Brazil Market which was chaired by Mehmet Akif Meral, ICI EU and International Relations Deputy Director. Then, the questions of the participants were answered by the panelists.