Japan is trying to strengthen relations with Minas Gerais.

Minas Agency - Minas Gerais is Japan's main trading partner among Brazilian states, and this leadership is expected to increase even further. Governor Fernando Pimentel (PT) received the Vice-Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, Makoto Yamashita, this Thursday (August 20th) at the Palácio da Liberdade in Belo Horizonte. The Japanese delegation's objective was to learn about Minas Gerais' role in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and thus assist the prefecture in the 2020 Olympic Games, which will be held in Tokyo. During the visit, a protocol of mutual cooperation between Minas Gerais and Yamanashi was signed.

The head of the International Advisory Office of the Government of Minas Gerais, Rodrigo Perpétuo, who is responsible for the meeting, explains that Minas Gerais is serving as an example for Yamanashi, which will have a similar role to that of the State in the Olympics, by receiving delegations and hosting football tournaments.

“What brings them here is their interest in the organization of the State for the holding of the Olympics. The role they will play in the Tokyo Olympics is very similar to the role we will play in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics,” explains Perpétuo. “But we are taking advantage of the meeting to deepen future relations in trade, cultural exchange and technical exchanges in public policies, such as in matters of innovation and advanced technologies,” he adds.

Regarding the main buyers of Minas Gerais' agricultural products, the Japanese occupy the fourth position in the ranking of importing countries. Total exports from Minas Gerais to Japan reached US$ 661,6 million, from January to July of this year.

Agribusiness accounted for 40,4% of total exports to the Japanese market, totaling US$267,1 million, representing an 8,1% increase compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to Deputy Secretary Kleber Villela Araújo, who represented the Agriculture Secretariat at the reception of the delegation held this Wednesday (August 19) at the Administrative City, the indicators signal that Minas Gerais' agribusiness products are highly relevant and find in Japan an important showcase for the foreign market.

Highlights of agribusiness

The "coffee and derivatives" group is the most exported product from Minas Gerais to Japan. In the accumulated year (January to July), the value of exports from this group totaled US$190,7 million, a 22,7% increase compared to the same period last year. This amount represents 71,4% of all agribusiness exports to the Japanese market. Japan was the 5th largest buyer of coffee, maintaining the same ranking position as in the same period of 2014.

Cellulose is the second most exported product to the Asian country, totaling US$62,9 million (23,6% of agribusiness exports). Chicken meat is the third most traded product from Minas Gerais. The volume was 3,4 tons, reaching US$6,68 million.

Green coffee and roasted coffee, cellulose, and chicken meat together accounted for 97,5% of all agribusiness exports to Japan. Among manufactured agribusiness products, beeswax generated the most revenue for the state, reaching over US$1,5 million, representing 90% of all products analyzed in this group.

Regarding the largest increases recorded during the period, potato flour led with 763%, followed by live ornamental fish (+532%) and plant foliage (+160%).

Another opportunity for Minas Gerais producers is the export of eggs to this market. The Japanese have accepted the Brazilian proposal for a sanitary certificate to support exports of eggs and egg products. "With this decision, communicated to the Brazilian government by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the possibility of exporting eggs and egg products to the Asian country, one of the world's largest consumers of these products, will be resumed," analyzes Kleber Araujo.