Queensland is set to build on its already productive relationship with Brazilian state Minas Gerais, with Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, Cameron Dick officially renewing the partnership during his Trade Mission to Latin America.
The Treasurer signed the third iteration of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two states, first established in 2011.
Minas Gerais is at the heart of the Brazilian mining sector as a large producer of bauxite, iron, gold and zinc and has proven to be a significant market for Queensland businesses in the mining, equipment, technology and services (METS) sector.
One of Queensland’s largest METS exporters, Phibion, bases its Brazilian operations in Minas Gerais and recently secured its largest contract to date in the country.
The renewed MOU agrees to continue the work in the resources and agriculture sectors, and also encourages further collaborative opportunities in emerging areas including education, collaborative research, infrastructure, mining equipment, technology and services, clean energy and environmental management.
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said Queensland is proving itself to be a world leader in the METS sector, so the MoU is of immense benefit.
“Our states have collaborated for 11 years to unearth opportunities in the mining sector and Queensland highly values our information exchanges with Minas Gerais.
“We each have a lot to offer the other and we look forward to continuing our work together in existing and emerging areas of mutual benefit.”
The University of Queensland Sustainable Minerals Institute in Brazil is currently conducting the Minas Rio site survey project in Minas Gerais.
