A delegation of about 40 Brazilian companies is arriving today in Cotonou, the main port city of Benin, for the first stop in a new trade mission to Africa promoted by Brazil’s trade promotion agency ApexBrasil and the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The following week will be spent in Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia, where the company representatives will take part in business forums, corporate seminars, B2B meetings and technical visits.
Brazil’s relationship with African countries over the last hundred years has been something of a seesaw, with moments of rapprochement followed by periods of retreat. The Brazilian diplomatic footprint on the continent is not nearly as large as it is elsewhere in the world, with many of its African embassies understaffed and few direct trade routes linking the regions.
Since President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva began his third term in 2023, the Brazilian government has sought to rebuild bilateral ties with African countries and expand trade channels. That effort was symbolized early on by a state visit to Angola that included participation in an economic summit.
You’re missing out on the full story
Get smarter on Brazil and Latin America
Enjoy 14-day free trial now!The full picture. The sharpest takes. All in your inbox, every day:
- 🏆 Award-winning journalism, trusted worldwide
- 📊 Exclusive charts and analyses
- 🗃️ Archive access
- 💬 Commenting
