Brazil calls for more investment from Germany

[Blue_Tires]

BRASILIA — President Dilma Rousseff on Thursday welcomed visiting German President Christian Wulff by urging Germany to invest more in Brazil and increase trade with South America.

Rousseff reminded Wulff that Brazil will be spending heavily to upgrade infrastructure as it prepares to host the 2014 World Cup of football and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

She also mentioned that Brazil will be seeking foreign investment in exploiting its deep sea oil wealth.

"It's time for your country -- Germany -- to invest even more in Brazil. We are your strategic partners," Rousseff told Wulff.

She also asked the German leader for support in a free-trade agreement being negotiated between the European Union and the Mercosur trade bloc.

Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay are the core Mercosur members.

Wulff, who is visiting with a team of business leaders, said that German companies want to participate in work on improving stadiums ahead of the football World Cup.

He also asked for Brazil's support for Munich in its quest to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Trade between Brazil and Germany reached $2.1 billion in 2010, up 31 percent from 2009, according to Brazilian foreign ministry figures.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g0b8Yj0D62MVmA2Zp58bCTFz13WQ?docId=CNG.7ab5b55cc40602e2223dad0789dec556.8a1

[Judi Lynn]

1. Hooray for President Rousseff. She's doing very well, isn't she?

It's great to know she is continuing the pattern and the pace set by her advocate, friend, former President Lula da Silva.

These years are so vital for Brazil's future.

http://www2.2space.net.nyud.net:8090/images/upl_news/110505/1304622602.jpg

(Reuters) - Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff (R) talks with German
President Christian Wulff during a ceremony in Planalto Palace in
Brasilia, May 5, 2011. Wulff is on a tour of Latin America.
REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino (BRAZIL - Tags: POLITICS)
Thank you, by Blue Tires. Recommend.

[Blue_Tires]

2. So far she seems to be keeping up Lula's momentum...

[rabs]

3. What a difference

When Obama was down there last month he had no such reception. In fact, Dilma told him to lower U.S. trade tariffs slapped on Brazilian exports to the United States.

What pissed off Brazilians most was that the first day Obama was there, he declared the U.S./NATO war in Libya. ("Gadaffi MUST GO!") Brazilians do not take kindly to a president visiting Brazil and starting a shooting war somewhere else.

The moment Obama's plane left Brazilian air space en route to Chile, Itamaraty (Brazilian foreign ministry) expressed its disapproval of the Libya no-fly/bombing campaigns. It was a parting "take that" at Obama.

Obama was down there peddling F-16s (or 4-18s) combat planes. The Brazilian air force will be modernizing and France and Sweden are in the running. The U.S. MIC only has a slim chance. Land forces will also be buying modern weapons. France, Italy, UK, and Russia are being mentioned. The U.S. MIC is not.

Obama was also trying to get U.S. oil companies in the running for exploration/exploitation of Brazil's, massive Pre-Salt discovery offshore in the Atlantic. He had no luck there either.

The days are gone when the United States was the main provider of weapons to Latin America, especially the bloody, right wing dictatorships so embraced for decades.

It is now Europe, China and Russia that are in the driver's seat.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Very interesting changes, aren't they? Latin America needs those new associations.

It's wonderful seeing them building their own new world. Hope their choices will be respected this time.