Brazilian agribusiness will continue, in the coming years, with the responsibility of sustaining Brazilian trade surpluses, based on the export of commodities to more than 200 countries. However, the government will need to be increasingly concerned with the international market, because there is a great risk of a reduction in exports of Brazilian products in the West. The outlet will be in Asia, which holds 61% of the world market, with emphasis on China, India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea, which are already consolidating themselves as major consumers of the future. Brazil urgently needs to insert itself into these more dynamic markets.
This was the main message given by two of the best Brazilian experts on global agribusiness issues: Marcos Sawaya Jank, consultant for the Agency for the Agribusiness and Food Market Access Program (PAM-Agro); and Augusto Castro, executive manager of the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). Both participated in a video conference with Embrapa's board of directors on July 19th, broadcast to all decentralized units, and spoke about how to add value to the commercial partnership with Asian countries. They highlighted the importance of presence in that market, where Embrapa plays a strategic role, and the search for improvements in the quality of exported products.
“This topic interests us very much, because the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply counts on Embrapa to help Apex-Brasil in its mission”, stated president Maurício Lopes at the beginning of the meeting. “The Asian continent is also a market for our technologies, but above all we are committed to assisting public policies with qualified studies and data, which can support the creation of a positive image of Brazilian products in these markets and the defense of Brazilian interests”, completed.
Jank presented points of the strategy outlined by Apex for the coming months and years to increase the export of Brazilian products, he reported on the problems that the country has been experiencing in the international meat market due to the developments of the Carne Fraca operation and the allegations involving JBS directors. and concern about the low added value of our exported products. “We have to export fewer commodities and more and more value-added products.”
Quality information
The consultant asked for greater collaboration from Embrapa in generating qualified information about Brazilian products. He even suggested the creation of a special website or page to be used at international events, which could show that the national products exported have quality, are produced without generating deforestation or slave labor and are the result of tropical knowledge generated by scientists recognized throughout the world. He also highlighted five international challenges for the country: competitiveness, access to markets, added value, improving image and internationalization.
Elísio Contini, head of Embrapa's Intelligence and Macrostrategy Secretariat (SIM), considered the event positive and important to consolidate a closer partnership with Apex. “At the president’s request, from the second half of this year we will coordinate these qualified studies on Brazilian products aimed at export, mobilizing observatories, units, portfolios and arrangements”, he said.
Representatives from all UDs and Agropensa observatories, as well as managers and technicians from the main CUs involved with the topic, participated in the videoconference.
Apex-Brazil
Apex-Brasil is a legal institution under private law, non-profit, of collective interest and public utility, created in 2003 with the responsibility of implementing policies to promote exports of Brazilian products in cooperation with public authorities, including actions to investment promotion. It also works in a coordinated manner with public and private actors to attract direct foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy, with a focus on developing the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country.
To achieve these objectives, Apex-Brasil carries out diverse actions, such as prospective and commercial missions, business rounds, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits by foreign buyers and opinion leaders to learn about the Brazilian production structure, among others. business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand.
Source: Agrolink
