Marcos Bezerra Abbott Galvao, who was appointed Brazil's ambassador to Japan in March, said his mission is to promote business opportunities in his country for Japanese companies, especially small and medium-size firms, by offering more information.
In a courtesy call on Tuesday to The Japan Times, Galvao stressed Japan needs to be reassured that there is a "welcoming attitude toward Japan by the Brazilian public opinion."
Brazil is home to the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. Bilateral diplomatic relations were established when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in Brazil in 1908. Japan also has a large Brazilian population — around 230,000 as of 2010.
Galvao said he would like to draw more attention to Japan's potential for a larger presence in Brazil.
"I want to point out Japan's advantages in technology to people in Brazil — in both government and private sectors. These are things that are pretty well known, but you have to keep remembering (them)," he said.
Brazil presents huge infrastructure investment opportunities as it prepares to host the 2014 soccer World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, he said.
