Between March 10 and 13, an international mission led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) strengthened trade ties between Brazil and Chile. The focus of the initiative was to strengthen agribusiness production chains. The delegation was attended by the Secretary of Commerce and International Relations, Luís Rua, and the Secretary of Agricultural Defense, Carlos Goulart. The mission followed the guidelines of Minister Carlos Fávaro, reaffirming Brazil's commitment to expanding trade relations in the agricultural sector.
Chile is a strategic partner for Brazil in South America. In 2023, trade between the two countries generated around US$10 billion, with emphasis on meat, soy and forestry products. Since 2022, both countries have maintained a free trade agreement. This agreement seeks to facilitate the flow of goods, services and investments, gradually eliminating tariff and technical barriers. In addition, Chile stands out as the main supplier of salmon to Brazil, meeting the growing demand of the Brazilian market.
Brazilian mission seeks to expand business and partnerships
Throughout the mission, the Brazilian delegation participated in seminars, bilateral meetings and technical visits. The objective was to expand business opportunities and strengthen relations with the Chilean government. In addition, the meetings allowed for greater ties with the country's agricultural sector, promoting the exchange of experiences and the exploration of new partnerships.
The Brazilian Animal Recycling Association (ABRA), in partnership with Mapa and the Brazilian Embassy in Santiago, marked the first day with the “Seminar on Integration of Agribusiness Production Chains”. During the event, participants highlighted the importance of bilateral collaboration, in addition to the potential for growth in trade between the countries. The delegation then met with Chile’s Vice Minister of Agriculture, Ignacia Fernández, to further discuss production integration, as well as discuss cooperation on sanitary and phytosanitary issues and market expansion.
In addition to the institutional meetings, the Brazilian delegation also participated in technical visits to leading Chilean companies in the aquaculture and animal recycling sectors, as well as to a company specializing in nutritional solutions for aquaculture. These visits enabled a rich exchange of experiences, in addition to opening doors for future commercial partnerships, further strengthening ties between the two countries.
Results and perspectives for agricultural trade
To close the agenda, the delegation participated in a strategic meeting with José Guajardo Reyes, national director of the Chilean Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), and his team. During the meeting, the representatives discussed strategies to reduce bureaucracy in agricultural trade and, consequently, expand the export agenda of both countries. In addition, the delegation participated in a business round in the animal recycling sector, where they had the opportunity to explore new possibilities for partnerships and commercial expansion, further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The mission concluded with optimistic prospects for concrete progress in the coming months in trade relations between Brazil and Chile. Expectations are even higher due to the highly anticipated visit of Chilean President Gabriel Boric to Brazil in April. This meeting could boost new negotiations between the two countries. In addition, the visit has the potential to strengthen bilateral cooperation and expand trade opportunities in the agricultural sector. Mapa reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the identified opportunities into results, further strengthening the presence of Brazilian agribusiness in the international market.
Source: datagro
