Brazil and the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia intend to strengthen their trade relations and technical cooperation. The intention is that the country, which already operates as a distribution platform of Brazilian oil to the Caribbean, becomes a sales warehouse for other products.

Saint Lucia's government is mainly interested in the agricultural techniques and the local programs to fight poverty.

The Chancellor from Saint Lucia, Alva Baptiste, is in Brazil to discuss possible arrangements with government officials, among them the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Patriota, and representatives of the Brazilian Company for Agricultural Research (Embrapa), the National Youth Secretariat and the ministries of Agrarian Development, Tourism, Health, Social Development and Hunger Alleviation, Fishing and Agriculture.

In 2011, the bilateral trade between Brazil and Saint Lucia had a turnover of US$ 2.9 billion (approximately R$ 5.8 billion). The value had an increase compared to 2006, when it amounted to US$ 4 million (approximately R$ 8 million). According to information from the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), most of this exchange is related to oil. Brazil has an embassy in Saint Lucia since 2007, and in 2010 partnered with the island for a technical cooperation in the areas of culture, education, agriculture and public safety.

20 July 2012