Minister participates until Wednesday (12) in Macau Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries

Speaking at the opening of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, the minister Marcos Pereira said that Brazil is taking steps to achieve a sustainable fiscal balance and will improve the business environment in the country .

"We just take the first step in the approval of a change in the Brazilian Constitution that limits public spending. It is a major breakthrough. All market analysts point to this as the main measure for Brazil to return to growth," he said, citing the proposed Constitutional Amendment (PEC) 241, approved on Monday (10) in the first round, the House of Representatives.

The conference, which takes place in China, with the participation  of the host country ministers and also Brazil, Angola, Portugal, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and East Timor. 

The minister also indicated that confidence in Brazil has increased and the settings will be the basis for the resumption of economic growth to bring greater predictability, transparency and legal certainty to consumers, and especially to investors. "The new development cycle that begins now is sustained by deep and urgent reforms, such as labor, tax and social security. In addition, the realization of massive investments in infrastructure and the promotion of foreign trade are government bets President Temer to boost our economy and make the country grow back, "he said.

The minister also highlighted the results of recent analysis of risk rating agencies claim that the recession in Brazil begins to show signs of cooling."Fitch, for example, provides that the Brazilian economy will shrink 3.3% this year, against 3.8% forecast in the March report. The agency estimates further that the country will recover in 2017 with growth 0.7% and forecasts expansion of 2% in 2018. "

Finally,  Pereira stressed the importance of foreign trade contribution to the resumption of economic growth. "Given this scenario, it is necessary toensure that trade policy is at the center of the priority of the government agenda. External trade when supported by well - designed public policies, are powerful vectors to stimulate the economy, stimulate productive investment and innovative and generate jobs and income in the country, "he added.

China

In his speech, the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said that China, which organizes the event, wants to remain the most important trading partner of the Portuguese-speaking countries and the main export market of these countries. According to him, the stock of China's investments in these markets reached US $ 50 billion. "We want to promote a partnership long term healthy and friendly. We must promote the facilitation of trade and investment between our countries."

trade

China was the main destination of Brazilian exports in 2015, accounting for 18.6% of total exports of Brazil. In total, our exports to China last year reached US $ 35.6 billion.

The agenda comprises 80.3% of basic products; 13.2% of semi-manufactured goods; and 6.4% of manufactured goods. Our main export products are soybeans (44.3%); iron ore (18.1%); crude oil (11.6%); cellulose (5.2%); raw sugar (2.1%); hides and skins (1.7%); and chicken meat (1.7%). In 2015, more than two thousand Brazilian companies sold products to the Chinese market.

China was also the main foreign supplier to Brazil in 2015, with a share of 17.9% in our total purchases abroad. China's Brazilian imports reached US $ 30.7 billion in 2015, with 97.1% of manufactured products, 2.5% basic products and 0.4% of semi-manufactured goods.

Brazil imports from China mainly printed circuits for telephony (4.7%); parts of transmitters and receivers (4,3%); parts and accessories of machines for data processing (3.1%); drilling platforms and exploration (3.1%); electric motors and generators (2.7%); heterocyclic compounds (2.3%); among others. In 2015, 24,000 Brazilian companies compare Chinese products.