Manila: Brazil could serve as the Philippines' strategic gateway to Latin America as both countries seek to deepen trade and economic cooperation, according to Brazil Ambassador to the Philippines, Gilberto Fonseca Guimares de Moura.

According to Philippines News Agency, on the bilateral sphere alone, De Moura noted that commerce between the Philippines and Brazil, which is a major player in regional trade and the largest economy in South America, has already grown immensely in recent years. In 2024, trade between the two states reached approximately USD2.4 billion, marking a 31-percent increase compared to 2023.

With these growing trade ties, De Moura highlighted the immense potential in the more than seven-decade-old relations that the two countries could further explore. "Slowly, we are becoming very close to the Philippines, and we do believe that Brazil can be a bridge to Latin America to the Philippines. We are Iberian-we have, in a certain way, the same history," he said at the recent ThePhilBizNews Embassy Night at Hotel Okura in Pasay City.

Recently, the Brazilian Embassy in Manila assigned its newest agriculture attach©, who is tasked with promoting agriculture trade and assisting Philippine buyers in sourcing Brazilian food products. Beyond trade, De Moura emphasized that Manila and Brazil could also expand cooperation in renewable energy, particularly ethanol and biofuels, as well as in science, technology and innovation, outer space, and education, among other areas.

The Department of Trade and Industry has also urged Filipino exporters to explore opportunities in Latin American countries, which represent a market of over 600 million consumers for processed food, personal care products, and other fast-moving consumer items.