ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Brazil Claudio Raja Gabaglia Lins has said that with the objective to enhance bilateral trade volume and increase the economic cooperation between Pakistan and Brazil both the countries are going to establish Pakistan Brazil Business Council (PBBC). PBBC is going to be a platform for both Pakistani and Brazilian investors and businessmen to discuss their future plans along with exploration of profitable avenues present in both the countries.
In an exclusive interview with Customs Today, Claudio Raja Gabaglia Lins said that both the countries, Pakistan and Brazil, should also have an agreement on avoidance of double taxation to accelerate the business and trade activities. However, for this purpose, Pakistan will have to sign this agreement with a Economic and Trade Union of South American countries of which Brazil is a member. Once this agreement is signed, Pakistan’s exports to Latin American countries to increase by several times.
To a question about hurdles in bilateral trade and economic activities, Ambassador said that main problem was the lack of information about each other country in the businessmen and investors. Even large number of Brazilian businessmen and investors are not aware of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) so I like to see more Brazilian investors in joint ventures with Pakistani businessmen to profit out of opportunities of CPEC.
“For this purpose information is essential, putting investors together is essential therefore at first step is the enhanced number of exchange of trade missions and I like to see more Pakistani trade missions to visit Brazil and more Brazilian trade missions in Pakistan” he maintained adding, “a large number of Brazilian businessmen to neighbouring countries and even to China, but the least tend to Pakistan just because of lack of information about enormous business and investment opportunities in Pakistan. Moreover, they don’t know about the safe business environment in Pakistan; therefore, we have to promote this environment in Brazil through social media.
To a question about latest development on the establishment of Pak-Brazil Chamber of Commerce, Ambassador Lins said that both the countries were aiming on something more concrete and practical the Pakistan Brazil Business Council and establishment of Pakistan-Brazil Chamber of Commerce was also in pipeline but it was second step. So we are beginning with more modestly as Pakistan Brazil Business Council will promote traders who will like to trade with Brazil. Pakistan-Brazil Chamber of Commerce is somewhat more formal setup and will be established in second step. Therefore, interaction between traders and businessmen from both the countries on Pakistan Brazil Business Council will be more productive and positive. We have to put businessmen together on a platform.
Responding to a question about possible ways for benefitting each other’s expertise, Ambassador said that both the countries were going to sign an agreement on technical cooperation in near future because final draft of the agreement is with government of Pakistan and they are making final revision and on behalf of my government I will sign the agreement so it may become effective more quickly. Moreover, we have to put our research institutions together and it will be helpful in creation of new projects. Two researchers from a Brazilian university are scheduled to visit COMSATS Institute quite soon.
While commenting on the current state of bilateral relations between Brazil-Pakistan , he said that rRelations between Pakistan and Brazil were very good as Brazil was the first Latin American county which recognized Pakistan. Even then both the countries are required to get to know better about each other because at present lack of information about each other is the main issue. This state of affairs is just because of the fact that both the countries are situated geographically at a very long distance. Brazilian people know Pakistan as a hospitable country with loving people.
He said that Brazilians were fascinated by Pakistan’s ancient culture, but bigger understanding of both the countries was still lacking. I think it is necessary for Brazilian traders and businessmen to recognize Pakistan as a safer investment destination. To me, international media portrayal about Pakistan is very negative as international media only portray terrorist attacks and doesn’t portray good and positive activities and environment in Pakistan. This is why South American countries receive only negative news about Pakistan. Therefore it is our common challenge to introduce Pakistan in a better way in Brazil and Brazil may be better known in Pakistan.
