Within the framework of the efforts of Germany and Brazil to deepen their economic relations, the German-Brazilian Business Conference will be inaugurated today in Belo Horizonte with the presence of the German Minister of Economy, Robert Habeck. In the afternoon (local time), Habeck will fly to Brasilia together with the Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, to hold political talks with Brazilian authorities.

During a visit to a company in Belo Horizonte on Sunday, Habeck praised the plans of the new Brazilian government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to protect the Amazon rainforest. The German politician, from the Green Party, described the Brazilian government’s goal of stopping the felling of the rainforest by 2030 as a hopeful sign. “For me, for example, tears come to my eyes because a government is changing the course of this way,” he commented.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro defended the exploitation of the Amazon. Lula, who was sworn in as Brazil’s president for the third time on January 1st, was hardly considered an environmentalist in his previous terms (between early 2003 and late 2010), but has now vowed to prioritize environmental and climate protection. Lula’s inauguration is also expected to give new impetus to the European Union’s negotiations on a free trade agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur. In this context, Habeck underlined the importance of protecting the rainforest.

The deputy head of the German government described Brazil as a “premium partner” for the German economy. He emphasized the economic opportunities offered by building a hydrogen economy. “Green” hydrogen produced from renewable energy plays a key role for the government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the transformation of the economy towards climate neutrality. Due to its climatic conditions, Brazil is considered a good place for low-cost hydrogen production.

The German industry demanded speed in the negotiations for the EU agreement with Mercosur. The powerful Federation of German Industry (BDI) argued that Germany, as an exporting country, has lost market shares and global competitiveness in the past year and urged new free trade agreements. Instead, environmental protection associations and consumer defense organizations criticize the free trade agreement.

The deputy head of the Liberal Party (FDP) group in the German Parliament, Lukas Köhler, told dpa that a prompt ratification of the EU-Mercosur agreement will permanently strengthen economic relations between Europe and Brazil, as well as with other important South American countries. . “In this regard, the FDP parliamentary group hopes that Finance Minister Habeck will send clear signals to our South American partners in Brazil in the direction of a speedy ratification of the joint free trade agreement,” he said.

Source: dpa

(Reference image source: Britta Pedersen, dpa)

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