Minister Day Opens Doors for Canadian Business and a New Trade Office in Brazil

(Minister of International Trade)

The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today [Friday] opened a new Canadian trade office in Recife, Brazil. This new office will build on the two countries’ growing trade and investment relationship and expand Canada’s economic presence in Brazil, Latin America’s largest and most diversified economy.

“In 2008, Canadian exports to Brazil totalled $2.6 billion, an increase of an impressive 70% over the year before,” said Minister Day. “A great number of opportunities exist for Canadian companies in Brazil’s northeast in sectors such as information and communication technologies, oil and gas, agricultural technologies, health industries and science and technology. This new trade office in Recife will be the central point of contact for Canadian firms and for Brazilian businesses seeking to establish new links in these key sectors—sectors in which Canadian companies have proven to be world leaders.”

The new office will take advantage of the Pernambuco state government’s stimulus efforts specifically devoted to revitalizing the region. The state aims to attract long-term foreign investment through fiscal incentives dedicated to the sweeping development of the region and, in particular, of the Port of Suape, one of South America’s main shipping hubs and home to a blend of commerce, industry and port services.

A new trade office will be operational in Porto Alegre in September, bringing the total number of Canadian trade offices in Brazil to six. These six offices (in Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo) are located in states that together contain more than half of Brazil’s total population.

More details about Minister Day’s visit to Brazil may be found at: Ministerial visit to Brazil and Ecuador.