The Minister of Economy of Brazil, Paul Guedessaid this Saturday that he would present Argentina as candidate to join New Development Bank (NDB) of the group of countries that make up the BRICS, an economic nucleus consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africareported by the O’State agency of the neighboring country.

After meeting in Brasilia with his Argentine counterpart, Martín Guzmán, the Brazilian official stressed that the two countries play a decisive role in food and energy security of South America and of the world.

Brazil is interested have access to the country’s gas reserves and celebrate Petrobras ’decision to reduce the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The Brazilian minister insisted that “Argentina has a lot of fertilizer and the ability to multiply current production by ten“.

“They helped us when we reduced external rates. We will help Argentina with the IMF program (International Monetary Fund). The most important goal is integration of our economy“, blindfolded.

Guzmán said the relationship with Brazil is important and there is interest on both sides to seek more integration. “Brazil is the most important partner in economic terms and commercial for Argentina. In the field of energy, we will continue to work for greater energy integration, to increase production scale, reduce costs and improve the competitiveness of our industries, ”he detailed.

Guzmán is in São Paulo with nearly 200 local entrepreneurs from the energy, mining, agribusiness, automotive, and knowledge economy sectors, with the potential to invest in Argentina.

There he also sought to negotiate with Bolivia to import up to 16 million cubic meters of gas per day in winter.

Argentina needs Brazil’s approval to close the agreement with the country in the highlands, because its neighbor Rio de Janeiro has a priority to consume gas from Bolivia. But since the water supply to Brazil’s energy system would have improved, that gas is available for Argentina.

LM