PH Eyes Technical Cooperation on Biofuel Energy with Brazil

Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro (second from left) calls on Ambassador Ruy Carlos Pereira (second from right), Director of the Brazilian Development Agency - Agência Brasileira de Cooperação, a branch of the Ministry of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil. Joining them are Bilateral Relations with Asia, Africa and the Middle East Manager Antonio Junqueira (leftmost), and General Coordinator of South-South Cooperation with Asia, Africa and the Middle East Nelci Peres Caixeta (rightmost).

BRASILIA 29 August 2019 — Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro met the Brazilian Development Agency-Agência Brasileira de Cooperação (ABC) Director Ambassador Ruy Pereira to discuss biofuel research and development on 30 July 2019 in Brasilia.

The meeting builds on discussions on agricultural technology and biofuel energy made during the 4th Bilateral Consultation Meeting last year between the Philippines and Brazil. The two topics are of particular interest to the Philippines, and Ambassador Mauro has outlined them as possible areas of cooperation with ABC.

Ambassador Pereira shared the information that Brazil´s cooperation with other developing countries is demand-driven.   He stated that ABC approves projects that are critically needed in developing countries. 

In response, Ambassador Mauro explained that the Philippines could learn from Brazil on the development of bioethanol to address pollution problems particularly in the urban areas, thus, addressing health and environment concerns.  It was further mentioned that since the Philippines grows high-grade sugarcane, bioethanol and biofuel could be produced as a renewable source of energy.  Therefore, a new Technical Cooperation Agreement centered on biofuel energy would be beneficial for both countries as it would be in tune with the current times.   

The meeting ended positively with Ambassador Mauro and Ambassador Pereira agreeing on making a counter draft to the Technical Cooperation Agreement already in place between the Philippines and Brazil to reflect the inclusion of biofuel energy as an area of cooperation.

ABC is a branch of the Ministry of External Relations that oversees Brazil´s commitments to the South-South Cooperation.

Established in 1987, it coordinates 700 projects in more than 100 countries.  It also coordinates technical cooperation projects received by Brazil. END

For more information, visit  https://www.brasiliape.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.philembassybrasilia.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBrazil/.