Carl Bildt in Brazil
On 10-11 February Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt is visiting Brazil together with State Secretary Gunnar Wieslander. The programme will begin with a visit to São Paulo, where they will meet representatives of Swedish companies and others. They will then travel to the capital, Brasilia, for talks with Brazil's Minister of External Relations Celso Amorim.
The talks in Brazil are expected to focus on bilateral strategic cooperation, development in the region and support to Haiti - where Brazil is playing a key role in UN efforts - as well as climate change and how to deal with the global economic crisis. Plans for the Conference on Sustainable Development that Brazil will be hosting in 2012 will also be discussed.
São Paulo one of Sweden's most important industrial cities
Brazil is currently the major economic and political power in Latin America. Brazil is also Sweden's most important trade partner in the region, with a one-hundred-year tradition of economic exchange. There are currently some 220 Swedish companies represented in Brazil, 20 of which were launched in the last four years. The concentration of Swedish companies is highest in São Paulo, which makes it one of Sweden's most important industrial cities. In 2009, there were approximately 50 000 people employed in Swedish-related companies in Brazil.
Strengthened relations
In 2008, the planning of a strategic partnership with Sweden was begun, initiated by Brazil. During President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to Sweden last autumn, an action plan for this strategic partnership was adopted. The action plan covers trade and investments, bioenergy, biofuel, sustainable development of forests and cities, science, innovation and high technology, cultural exchange and education, and defence.
Political dialogue and multilateral cooperation also feature in the action plan. In multilateral contexts, Brazil and Sweden often represent similar values concerning peace, security and development. This applies to issues such as the importance of free and open global trade, disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, human rights and environmental protection. The strategic partnership between Sweden and Brazil will lead to stronger cooperation in all of these areas.
