Leather targeted for Brazilian export drive
Leather is one of a number of commodities that have been listed for promotion under a new Brazilian government plan, aimed at increasing exports with Mexico, the United States, Germany, Britain, Japan, China and India.
Speaking at the announcement of the plan last week, Sergio Amaral, minister for development, industry and trade said that although the 40% devaluation of the Brazilian Real had done much to boost the country’s export prospects, these could be further improved through the implemenation of measures contained in the plan.
As well as eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to exports, the plan calls for trade delegation visits to specified countries which have been chosen on the basis of their likely potential. Aside from leather, commodities listed for promotion under the plan include food, footwear, furniture, textiles, apparel, auto parts and software. According to Amaral, although Brazilian exports have exhibited strong growth in the last two years (15% in 2000 and 8% so far this year - despite the current downturn in the world economy), his new government was expecting a "huge increase" in exports, amounting to a $5 billion trade surplus for the year as a whole.
