Japan-Brazil Economic Forum Held

1. Overview of the forum

The year 2025 marks the 130th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Brazil diplomatic relations. Taking this opportunity, Japan invited President Lula to visit Japan as a state guest. In response, President Lula visited Japan accompanied by a mission of companies. During the president’s visit to Japan, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, the Japan-Brazil Economic Forum was held, which was co-hosted by JETRO, Keidanren, and CNI. This forum brought together stakeholders of the governments, companies, and financial institutions of Japan and Brazil.

2. Remarks delivered by Minister Muto

At the beginning of the forum, Minister Muto delivered his remarks via video message as a representative of the Government of Japan. At the beginning of his remarks, he celebrated the fact that the forum was held in this milestone year of the 130th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Brazil diplomatic relations, with President Lula invited as a state guest. In addition, he stated that Brazil, a country blessed with rich natural resources, and Japan, a country holding advanced technology, have long been working together to solve global issues, including climate change countermeasures and the construction of global value chains, by taking advantage of their own strong points. He also noted that METI has been proactively supporting Brazil under the framework of its budget project for Global South countries. He further mentioned that certain opportunities, including enhanced economic partnerships between Japan and Mercosur, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and COP30, will raise momentum for human-resource and economic exchange, thereby further consolidating Japan-Brazil relations and the Japan-Mercosur Economic Partnership and cultivating new potential for future cooperation between the countries.

3. Forum highlights

1. Session (1): Strategies for the environment and energy (panel discussion)

This panel discussion brought together Mr. Tomomi Mohri, General Manager, Head of Div. Raw Materials, Nippon Steel Corporation; Mr. Hidekazu Hagiwara, Executive Officer, Vice President, Global Cacao Business Div Ltd, Meiji ; Mr. Edvandro Gussi, CEO, UNICA; and Mr. Mauro Andrade, Business Development Officer, Prumo Logistica. These panelists held discussions on efforts for decarbonization and energy transition by providing ethanol and using iron ore as well as on future prospects taking into account these efforts.

2. Session (2): Japan-Brazil co-creation for sustainable development (panel discussion)

This panel discussion brought together Mr. Tatsushi Amano, Managing Executive Officer, Global head of Energy and Natural Resources Finance Group, JBIC; Mr. Yoko Yamazaki, Senior Manager, International Affairs & Public Policy Department, Industrial Policy Division, Government & External Relation Group, Hitachi, Ltd; Mr. Rafael Abud, CEO, Fueling Sustainability (FS); and Mr. Paulo Macedo, Global Managing Director, Raízen. These panelists held discussions on human resource development and the business environment as efforts for sustainable development.

3. Session (3): Japan-Mercosur Economic Partnership (keynote speech and dialogue)

This session brought together Mr. Inoue Tetsuya, Director General, Office, JETRO São Paulo; Mr. Shingo Sato, Executive Coordinator, Mitsui & CO, LTD ; Mr. Rafael Chang, Chief Executive Officer, Latin America & Caribbean Region, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION; Mr. Gustavo Pimenta, CEO, Vale; and Mr. Francisco Gomez, CEO, Embraer. Managing Director Inoue delivered a keynote speech, and then participants held discussions on the current relationship between Japan and Mercosur, future prospects, and revitalization of the strategic partnership.

4. Session (4): Speeches by the ministers of Brazil

This session brought together Mr. Carlos Fávaro, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Mr. Alexandre Silveira, Minister of Mines and Energy; Ms. Luciana Santos, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation; and Mr. Silvio Costa Filho, Minister of Ports and Airports. These ministers stated the importance of bilateral ties between Japan and Brazil.

5. Ceremony for announcing Japan-Brazil MOUs

Representatives of the public and private sectors announced 84 MOUs in total in front of Prime Minister Ishiba and President Lula.

• List of Japan-Brazil MOUs (PDF:331KB)

6. Hand-delivering of a joint statement calling for the prompt establishment of a Japan-Mercosur Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)

Mr. Yasunaga Tatsuo, Chair, Japan-Brazil Economic Committee, Keidanren, and Mr. Eduardo Eugenio Vieira, Vice-President, CNI, stated to Prime Minister Ishiba and President Lula the importance of a Japan-Mercosur EPA for the business world and they hand-delivered to them the Joint Statement Calling for Prompt Action to Establish Japan-Mercosur EPA on the 130th Anniversary of Japan-Brazil Diplomatic Relations.

7. Remarks delivered by Prime Minister Ishiba and President Lula 

In wrapping up the forum, Prime Minister Ishiba and President Lula delivered their remarks.

Related Links

• The Prime Minister’s Office website: Visit to Japan by President Lula of the Federative Republic of Brazil
• The MOFA website: Japan-Brazil Summit Meeting
• Keidanren: Joint Statement Calling for Prompt Action to Establish Japan-Mercosur EPA on the 130th Anniversary of Japan-Brazil Diplomatic Relations

Division in Charge

Latin America and Caribbean Office, Trade Policy Bureau