SOCIETY 368 / 2015

DIPLOMATIE
BRAZIL
»Our achievements
have to be
highlighted, not
only our problems.
«
Evandro
Didonet
in Brazil, but Brazilian companies also
have an important amount of capital invested
in Austria. For example, Banco do
Brasil, which is the most important bank
in Brazil, has its European holding in Vienna.
So the Banco do Brasil Austria is a company
established under Austrian law and is
responsible for all Banco do Brasil agencies
in Europe. But we are below the potential
of our trade relations with Austria. Austria’s
foreign trade is focused mainly on
the European Union or the whole European
continent. We have a structural trade
deficit, which is traditional at least in the
past ten years. A second challenge is that
we sell mainly commodities to Austria and
import industrialised goods. The main export
good is iron. In the recent past we sold
Embraer jets to Austria, but this was an exception
to the pattern.
Do Brazilians usually know about
Austria, the geography and common history
with Brazil?
To be quite frank, I think there is more
knowledge about Austria in Brazil, than
vice versa. That is my impression. Everybody
knows about Austrian music, about
the cultural heritage. Many Brazilian tourists
visit Austria.
Since you said that Austrians know
not enough about Brazil, what would
you like them to know?
I would wish that Europeans in general
would have more objective information
about Brazil. The media usually focuses
on challenges we have as a developing
country in Brazil. Criticism is necessary,
but our big achievements have to be highlighted
as well.
Do you think it is a general problem
with European journalism, that the coverage
is very negative?
The Brazilian press is also very critic
about Brazil, very independent, but then
of course they know Brazil and know that
the problems are part of a bigger reality. I
would wish to see the bigger picture also
in the European press: Not only the challenges,
but also the achievements of our
country.
Concerning the achievements, in the
last years you had very positive effects
concerning a growing economy, but
lately it is decreasing again. What is the
reason for that?
Brazil had a difficult year in 2014 concerning
the economic performance. 2015
will also be a difficult year. One of the
reasons is that Brazil is an important commodity
exporter. But the commodity prices
have fallen significantly recently. There
are many reasons, one of them being that
China is importing less and this makes
a big difference in the markets. Europe,
which is also an important market for
Brazil, has not been growing a lot, either.
But I would take the opportunity to highlight
the other side of the coin: In the last
ten years, more than 40 million Brazilians
have overcome poverty. The economic situation
is difficult at the moment, but we
have had huge social improvements in the
country. This is in itself a big success. So
the challenge is to go back to growth and
to continue the social progress.
And for that purpose, the Olympic
Games might help?
Actually, Brazil is a huge economy; it has
the seventh largest gross domestic product
in the world. The games may make a difference
for Rio, in terms of legacy and tourism,
but Brazil is much larger than that.
Can you tell me from your personal
point of view, what are the pros and cons
of the Olympic Games for Brazil?
This is one more opportunity for Brazil
to welcome people from all over the
world and this is a beautiful moment
for Brazil. I want to highlight the legacy
of the Olympic Games: many parts of Rio
are being renovated right now, the public
transportation is being improved, and
this will leave a legacy for the city. We are
going to receive a big number of tourists,
which is important for the country and
the economy. Honestly, I don’t see negative
aspects at all. These big events should
leave a legacy, be sustainable and have a
positive social impact.
Regarding the refugee waves in
Europe: How would Brazil react, if there
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SOCIETY 2_2015 | 45