Germany courts Brazil: Westerwelle opens science centre

Feb 14, 2012, 21:44 GMT

Sao Paulo - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle opened Tuesday in Sao Paulo the German House of Science and Innovation (DWIH), an initiative to promote the European power's status as a strategic partner for rapidly-growing Brazil.

Westerwelle noted that Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city as well as its economic powerhouse, is the ideal site for such a facility.

This is the sixth DWIH around the world, with others in Tokyo, New York, Moscow, New Delhi and Cairo. These facilities are to represent German universities, research institutes and foundations abroad.

On the second day of his visit to Brazil, Westerwelle again called for deeper cooperation between the two countries.

'Brazil is a top-level partner,' he said Monday in Brasilia.

About 800 German firms have offices and facilities iin Sao Paulo, a metropolis of 11 million.

Westerwelle referred to the Brazilian government's grant programme Science Without Borders, which intends to sponsor around 75,000 Brazilian students and researchers to study in foreign universities by 2014. Of these, 10,000 are to head to Germany.

'They will be very welcome with us,' Westerwelle said.

He unveiled the logo for the Year of Germany in Brazil, which is set to be held in 2013-14 and has already been granted 5 million euros (6.5 million dollars) in public funds.

Westerwelle was to fly to Rio de Janeiro later Tuesday. On Wednesday, he was expected to hold talks aimed at positioning Germany in Brazil's preparations for the 2014 football World Cup and the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Westerwelle launched Monday in Brasilia an eight-day Latin American tour that is also scheduled to take him to Peru, Panama and Mexico.

In Brasilia, he met with Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota to discuss global affairs, deepen ties and prepare the visit that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is planning to make to Germany next month.

Brazil is a key trade partner for Germany. German exports to the South American giant amounted to 12.5 billion euros (16.5 billion dollars) in 2010, up 27 per cent compared to the previous year.

On the weekend, Westerwelle is to take part in a Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers summit in Los Cabos, Mexico.

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