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In overall Brazilian exports the share of micro and small businesses may surpass the 10% expansion target for 2010, set by the Production Development Policy (PDP) of the Brazilian federal government. The possibility of expansion is mostly due to the participation of the segment that operates in the services sector.
This according to the secretary of Industry and Trade of the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Édson Lupatini. His information came while participating in debates promoted by the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) under the '1st Foreign Trade Meeting focusing on the Mercosur', a.k.a. Encomex Mercosur, held in the city of Foz do Iguaçu, in the state of Paraná, in south Brazil.
Lupatini explained that when the 10% goal was set, only micro and small businesses that exported goods were considered. Now, however, those that export services are also included.
"Currently, in Brazil, there are 63,000 natural persons that export services, and they may become micro or small companies in the future. As for legal entities, we have approximately 28,000, 75% to 80% of which are micro and small enterprises. Thus, we will surely exceed the 10% goal," said the secretary.
The panel organized by the Sebrae dealt with 'Internationalization Strategies for Micro and Small Businesses and Border Markets.' In the panel, Sebrae representatives presented the organization's strategies for the field.
The highlights were the Micro and Small Business Internationalization Program and actions geared towards the segment in border regions, in addition to statistics concerning the sector's share in foreign trade.
Agricultural Agreement
Mozambique, Brazil and Japan have signed, in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, a memorandum of understanding considering joint administration of the program for development of agriculture in tropical savannahs in Mozambique.
According to the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (Jica), the agreement forecasts shared management, among all three countries, of the Protram for Development of Agriculture in the Tropical Savannahs of the Nacala Corridor, in central Mozambique.
"The objective of this cooperation is to create new models of sustainable agriculture in the tropical savannah region in Mozambique. The specific area to be considered is Nacala Corridor," according to the statement.
The memorandum calls for the improvement of research capacity in Mozambique, the formulation of a management plan for agricultural development and the establishment of new models for development of rural communities in Nacala Development Corridor.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Agriculture of Mozambique, Soares Nhaca, by the director of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), Marcos Farani, and the vice president of Jica, Kenzo Oshima.
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