Within the framework of the Hungarian foreign policy’s global opening, János Martonyi pays an official visit to Brazil, the country with the fifth largest territory and the sixth largest economy in the world on 15-18 May 2012.

As a result of the Hungarian-Brazilian relations, Brazilian companies appeared in Hungary in the areas of iron industry, petrochemical industry, sulphate paper and cellulose production, and beef packing industry in the past years. Hungary’s exports (USD 264 million) increased by 55% in 2011 compared to the previous year, while the imports (USD 140.3 million) rose by 29%. Following Mexico, Brazil is our second largest trading partner in Latin America.

The Minister commenced his negotiations in Rio de Janeiro, the city with a population of 6 million which served as the capital of Brazil until 1960, the centre of culture and tourism, and the host of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. János Martonyi met Sérgio Cabral, Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro on 16 May 2012. The Minister congratulated the Governor on Brazil’s and Rio de Janeiro’s achievement in sports diplomacy: the city was given the chance to be the host of the 2016 Olympic Games, and Brazil organises the FIFA World Cup in 2014. Due to the sports events, several major infrastructure developments are underway in the federal state. The Minister pointed out the Hungarian business sector’s interest in participating in the investments. He explained that in their European expansion the Brazilian companies which had grown into international businesses – many of them headquartered in the State of Rio – could depend on Central Europe with a considerable potential for development, including the investment-friendly market environment of Hungary and the country’s advantages resulting from its geographic location. Approximately 10% of the Hungarians in Brazil live in the State of Rio, which functions as a link between the two countries.

The Foreign Minister of Hungary had a discussion with Carlos Mariani Bittencourt, Vice President of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN). At a working lunch János Martonyi informed a group of local businessmen about Hungary’s ambitions to open foreign trade and build relationships as it had been articulated in the Hungarian-Latin American Forum organised in Budapest in March 2012. Besides Brazilian and Hungarian businessmen, the representatives of the BNDES, the country’s largest development bank and of the PETROBRAS, an internationally significant Brazilian oil company attended the meeting as well. The negotiations focused on the mutual participation of companies in the two countries’ national development plans and on the increase of Brazilian investments in Hungary. The Foreign Minister gave a lecture to the leaders of the Federation and the representatives of the companies on the business opportunities of Hungary, which offers the economic advantages of its location in Central Europe, developed infrastructure, and EU-membership. He emphasised that Hungary was ready to participate in the technology transfer that the Brazilian industry needed – especially in the areas of biotechnology, surgical instruments and energetics.

(kormany.hu)