“Reflects our close cooperation in the private sector and the energy and climate fields”

Rio de Janeiro is the first stop during Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s visit to Brazil and Chile. The trip reflects the increasingly close cooperation between Norway and the two Latin American countries. The Prime Minister’s itinerary includes Brasilia, the Amazon and Santiago de Chile.

“The visit reflects the increasingly close ties between our countries. The Government is interested in facilitating close cooperation between Norway and both Brazil and Chile in the private sector and the energy field as well as in the international arena. In particular, climate change and the fight against poverty are important themes in our international cooperation,” says Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Rio de Janeiro is the petroleum capital of Brazil. Substantial oil and gas discoveries have been made off the Brazilian coast, and the opportunities arising from these have made Brazil an important investment destination for Norwegian companies.  Norway has a robust petroleum industry, and Norwegian supplier companies are at the forefront internationally. More than 100 Norwegian companies are currently active in the petroleum sector in Brazil. Norwegian companies are also active in a number of other important areas.

In Brasilia Mr Stoltenberg will have talks with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. The agenda for their meeting includes a number of important themes such as climate change, environmental issues, prospects for Norwegian companies on the Brazilian continental shelf, and child and maternal health in developing countries.

From Brasilia, the Prime Minister will travel on to the Amazon together with the Norwegian and the Brazilian ministers of the environment. They will look at what Brazil is doing to combat deforestation in the world’s largest rainforest. Deforestation is not just a threat to the valuable biodiversity of the Amazon and the way of life of those living there, but also a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.  Reduced deforestation means reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This is why Norway is engaged in these efforts.

After the Amazon, the Prime Minister will move on to Chile, where he is invited to participate in Independence Day celebrations in Santiago de Chile. He will also have political talks with President Michelle Bachelet while he is there.