Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry, received a courtesy call from Her Excellency Maria Elisa Teófilo de Luna, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil, today, Friday 21 June, 2024 at the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Head Office, Port of Spain.
This marked the first official meeting between Minister Gopee-Scoon and Ambassador Teófilo de Luna and focused on enhancing bilateral relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil.
During their discussions, Minister Gopee-Scoon highlighted the robust foundation of current trade relations between the two nations, particularly in petrochemicals, ceramic tiles, and corned beef. Emphasizing the potential for expanded cooperation across various sectors, the Minister expressed keen interest in fostering investment opportunities, particularly in light and heavy manufacturing, renewable energy, and maritime industries, with a specific focus on cold stacking and trans-shipment.
Both parties expressed a commitment to facilitating future dialogues and initiatives that promote economic cooperation and growth. Minister Gopee-Scoon reiterated Trinidad and Tobago’s openness to further collaboration with Brazil, aiming to capitalize on shared opportunities and mutual interests.
Formal diplomatic relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil were established in 1965. Thereafter, in 1968, Trinidad and Tobago established a resident Mission in the then capital Rio de Janeiro. The Trinidad and Tobago Mission was later relocated to the new capital of Brasília in 1970.
Since then, Trinidad and Tobago has continued to establish diplomatic ties and bilateral relations with Brazil, as seen through the signature of the Double Taxation Relief (Brazil) Order, the Technical Cooperation Agreement, and the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the Energy Field between Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago, all signed in 2008.
Trinidad and Tobago exports a variety of products to Brazil including methanol, anhydrous ammonia, liquefied natural gas, urea, and glass bottles.
Trinidad and Tobago’s imports from Brazil comprise iron-ore, plywood, glazed ceramic tiles, machinery parts, corned beef, paper products and pipes.
Also in attendance at the meeting were Mr. Andre Bueno, Counsellor at the Embassy of Brazil, Port of Spain, Ms. Ava Mahabir-Dass, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag) of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other Officials from the Ministry.
