At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, undertook a Working Visit to Jamaica from the 8th – 9th August 2007. President Lula is the first Brazilian Head of State to visit Jamaica. He was accompanied by the Minister of External Relations, Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, government officials and members of the Brazilian private sector, as well as members of the press. The objective of the visit was to enhance traditional relations and continue the high level of dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.
In a private session, President Lula and Prime Minister Simpson Miller held discussions on matters of mutual interest, including an exchange of views on the current political, economic and social situations in their respective countries, as well as regional and international issues. They proceeded thereafter to jointly chair a formal bilateral exchange between their delegations.
President Lula paid a courtesy call on the Governor-General of Jamaica, His Excellency the Most Honourable Professor Kenneth O. Hall and received the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bruce Golding in a courtesy call. The President also attended the Opening Ceremony of the Jamaica Broilers Group Ethanol Dehydration Plant and addressed members of the Jamaican and Brazilian private sectors during the closing sessions of the Seminar on Bio-fuel Production and its Regulatory and Economic Frameworks.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is a Brazilian politician and was the country’s 35th president from 2003 till 2011.
A founding member of the Workers’ Party, Lula, as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is known, first ran for governor of the state of São Paulo in 1982, losing. As a member of the Chamber of Deputies and after two failed bids for the presidency, in 2002, Lula decisively defeated José Serra for the presidency.
News Stories
President of Brazil to Visit on Wednesday