§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list any agreements on trade or contracts placed with British firms which provide improved opportunities for the expansion of exports from Great Britain to Brazil, which arose as the result of the visit of President Geisel to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. MeacherDuring the State visit of President Geisel a number of economic co-operation agreements were concluded which will provide improved opportunities for the expansion of exports from Great Britain to Brazil. These were:
- (i) A Memorandum of Understanding was signed concerning the Acominds steel works in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. British industrial and banking concerns will lead European participation in the construction of the steel works. Orders for British goods and services will be placed to the value of approximately i110 million;
- (ii) An agreement was signed between the Brazilian State Steel Holding Company and a British bank for £50 million line of credit to finance the purchase of United Kingdom equipment for the Brazilian steel industry;
- (iii) A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Brazilian Federal Rail Network and British participants for the supply and financing of equipment and services for the Belo-Horizonte/Volta Redonda railway, together with complimentary rail links. Orders for United Kingdom goods and services should amount to approximately £128 million;
137 - (iv) An agreement on the transfer of technology relating to the construction of offshore platforms between a British firm and the Brazilian National Steel Company was ratified, and
- (v) A British bank and Brazil's National Bank for Economic Development (BNDE) arranged a £20 million line of credit for the purchase of United Kingdom capital goods and equipment for medium-sized industrial projects in Brazil supported by BNDE.