By: Aslam Chandio and Tayyab Baloch from Islamabad, Pakistan
Brazil is issuing free visas to those Pakistanis who have already purchased tickets for the FIFA Football World Cup 2014 beginning next month, says Brazilian Ambassador to Pakistan Alfredo Leoni.
Apart from a small number of spectators, another Pakistani link to the football extravaganza next month will be the soccer balls produced by Forward Sports (Pvt) Ltd in Sialkot, Pakistan’s main sports manufacturing center.
Highlighting the importance of sports activities, Leoni said that sport is a good tool for social organizations and institutions to promote education and take children out of the streets. He praised the performance of Pakistani street children football team for securing third position in the recently held Street Child World Cup in Brazil and termed it an inspiration for other children in Pakistan.
‘Thank you Pakistan for supporting Brazil’
Talking about support of Pakistanis for the Brazilian football team, Leoni said, “I am thankful to the people of Pakistan for supporting Brazil football team in every event. Also, I do thank Pakistanis in advance for their support in FIFA Football World Cup 2014 that is scheduled to be held from June 12 to July 13 in Brazil”.
Bilateral trade
Brazil is Pakistan’s largest commercial partner in Latin America with the bilateral trade volume reaching USD 250 million, and Ambassador of Brazil to Pakistan Alfredo Leoni is committed to enhancing it to USD one billion.
In an interview with scribes in Islamabad, the envoy said there are prospects for further increase in bilateral trade. He said there is great potential in technical cooperation in the agriculture sector between the two countries.
Alfredo Leoni said Brazil is ready to collaborate with Pakistan in all fields including energy.
“A five-year multiple entry visa policy has created new opportunities for Pakistani businessmen intending to invest in Brazil and the number of Pakistani businessmen traveling to Brazil has doubled over the last few months,” the ambassador said.
Trade volume between Brazil and China is USD 85 billion, Brazil and India is USD 9 billion, while USD one billion each with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. “One billion USD annual Pak-Brazil trade can also be achieved and is our objective,” he added.
Lessons for Pakistan in Brazil’s social welfare programmes
Pakistan can benefit from Brazil’s experience in the social sector. Brazilian government has launched social programs to reduce the gap between the socio-economic classes. The welfare programme, Bolsa Familia, was launched in 2003 that offers conditional cash income support to the poor and unconditional support to the extremely poor. It is the result of such socio-economic policies that more than 50 percent population of Brazil now comprises its middle class and the poverty level has been reduced to only seven percent.
“We are doing a lot in terms of sharing experiences in the field of social sector. A delegation of Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security is due to visit Brazil later this month to witness Brazil’s experience in the social field,” he explained.
Talking about the agreements between the two countries, Leoni said Brazil and Pakistan have so far signed various agreements related to trade and cultural cooperation among others, while talks on technical cooperation agreement is underway.
The ambassador said major Brazilian exports to Pakistan include cotton, fuel pumps, plastic, iron, steel, and tobacco, while major Pakistani exports to Brazil include textiles, surgical items, soccer balls and other instruments. “Pakistan produces best quality footballs in the world which are very popular in Brazil, a soccer crazy nation.”
“Pakistan and Brazil have supported each other in numerous international organizations. Both countries shared stances on various issues at the United Nations, World Trade Organization and other international forums,” he stated.
Pakistani students in Brazil varsities
Education cooperation is a new feature of the Brazilian partnership with Pakistan. In last few years, the Brazilian government began offering placements in world-class universities of Brazil for the Pakistani students. More than 100 students from Pakistan are currently enrolled in various universities of Brazil. The Embassy also offers free courses of ‘learning Portuguese language’ in Islamabad.
Aslam Chandio and Tayyab Baloch are Islamabad based journalists. They tweet at @aslamchandio_ and @blochjournalist respectively.