KIG calls for Poland to increase trade with Latin America
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
17.12.2015 12:33
The Polish Chamber of Commerce (KIG) has called for increased efforts to export to Latin America, noting both the region’s economic potential and Poland’s currently low level of exports there.
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Flickr.com/Christian Haugen
The largest Polish trade partner in the region is Brazil, with total turnover reaching almost USD 1.7 billion (EUR 1.56 billion) in 2014.
However there is a strong imbalance, as that year Polish exports to Brazil were just USD 531 million (EUR 448 million), less than half of the USD 1.158 billion (EUR 1.07 billion) Poland imported.
“In the long run Brazil will become a world power […] Almost every month we [Poland] host a trade mission, but we also reciprocate to this desire for cooperation. Last year KIG sent around thirty trade missions to this region,” commented Andrzej Arendarski, president of KIG.
Although he considers the region economically attractive, Arendarski pointed out that Poland currently has only one joint Chamber of Commerce to promote bilateral trade and investment in the region. Many countries in Latin America also have relatively high tariffs, which hinder Polish exports.
Meanwhile Andrzej Czernek, director of The ‘Poland:now’ Promotional Foundation noted that there Polish community in the region which could be used to facilitate trade.
“Around 2.5 million people of Polish descent live in Latin America, of which 1.5 million are in Brazil itself. The [community is] our natural representatives in these countries and could be partners in developing economic links,” Czernek explained. (sl/rg)
Source: PAP