The Minister of Industry, Trade and Services, Marcos Pereira, and the Minister of Commerce and UK Investment, Mark Price, signed today at the Ministry, in Brasilia, a memorandum for bilateral cooperation in innovation .

Soon, MDIC and Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, will launch a call for Brazilian and British companies financed by Newton Fund, British fund for scientific development, the BNDES and the Brazilian Company of Industrial Innovation (EMBRAPII).

The call will be focused on technology development projects to smart cities and sustainable urban environments, and involves internet of things, big data, smart grids, multimodal transport technologies and traffic control, clean energy, control and use of water and infrastructure blue-green.

"For a number of activities that involve scientific research, how to plan smart cities, and develop clean energy, international collaboration is crucial. With partnerships among the best researchers from Brazil and the United Kingdom, we will be better prepared to face the challenges of the world and improve lives of millions of people, "said Lord Price.

Bilateral trade relations

Lord Price said the window of opportunity to strengthen bilateral trade relations between Brazil and the United Kingdom, following a decision of his country to leave the European Union. Marcos Pereira took the Lord Price visit to demonstrate the interest in deepening the bilateral dialogue. "I thank the UK initiative to start by Brazil talks to expand trade with South America. I think important to promptly begin initiatives to boost trade and investment flows between our countries."

Lord Price confirmed that the output of the United Kingdom of the European Union is a fact. He reaffirmed the importance of Brazil as one of the major trading partners of the continent, and hopes that the two countries further deepen their trade and investment relations.

Marcos Pereira put the technical team of MDIC available to the Ministry of Trade and Investment in the United Kingdom and said that this will also be a great opportunity for Brazil to increase its exports to that country. In 2015, only 1.5% of total Brazilian exports were destined for the British market.

Also attended the meeting the British Ambassador in Brazil, Alex Ellis, and the Trade Policy Coordinator of the UK Department for International Trade, Paul Walters. On the Brazilian side, also attended the Executive MDIC Secretary Fernando Furlan, the Secretary of Trade and Services Marcelo Maia, the Secretary for Development and Industrial Competitiveness, Igor Calvet, and the Secretary of Foreign Trade substitute, Abram Neto and Adviser for Affairs Marcela Carvalho.

Trade exchange

In 2015 Brazil exported to the UK market US $ 2.9 billion in goods and imported $ 2.8 billion, with a surplus of US $ 106 million to Brazil. The main Brazilian products exported to the United Kingdom last year were gold, iron ore, coffee, soy and meat. We bought in 2015 from the UK, especially medicines for human and veterinary medicine, automobiles, insecticides and heterocyclic compounds. The UK was the 15th biggest market for exports and 14 for Brazilian imports in 2015. The expectation is to increase bilateral trade from the agreement that should begin to be negotiated in the coming months.