The year 2024 was the main topic of the meeting this Wednesday afternoon, the 26th, between Governor Jorginho Mello and the German Consul General for Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, Milan Andreas Simandl. Next year it will be the 200th anniversary of German immigration to Brazil, with the arrival of the first families to settle on national soil.

They talked about actions that can be developed in cities across the state, “such as Joinville, Blumenau, São João do Oeste and Itapiranga, just to name a few examples”, highlighted Governor Jorginho. In addition to the topic of the bicentennial of immigration, other topics on the relationship between Santa Catarina and Germany were addressed.

“We have many fantastic products in Santa Catarina, in our field and in our industry. It is a lot of added value that we want to export to Germany”, said Governor Jorginho Mello, who treated the Consul General with a wine produced in São Joaquim.

SAI and SED launch public notice to offer German courses for SC teachers

“We want to transform all this cultural integration that already exists into partnerships of commercial results for investments, for research and development”, explains the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Juliano Froehner, who attended the meeting. Rafael Nogueira, president of the Fundação Catarinense de Cultura – FCC (Cultural Foundation of Santa Catarina), also participated in the meeting.

Milan received the demands from Santa Catarina and said it would reinforce Santa Catarina’s interest in the institutions of German bilateral partnerships. “Talking to reference companies that are already in Santa Catarina can be a starting point for new commercial agreements”, also said the consul. He highlighted the companies BMW, installed in Araquari, the company Bosch in Brazil, in Pomerode, and T-Systems, which has its country’s headquarters in Blumenau.

“It was a very productive meeting in which it became clear that we are going to strengthen our bonds and celebrate the bicentennial of Germans coming to Brazil”, adds the FCC president.

Trade balance

In commercial relations, Germany appears among the top five countries from which products arrive at the ports of Santa Catarina to be sold in Brazil. There were US$ 633 million imported in the first semester. Within that amount are vehicles from BMW, a German company with a factory here in the state. The five most imported products are immunological products, vehicles, laboratory reagents, parts and accessories for vehicles and medicines.

Exports of products from Santa Catarina to Germany are a total of US$ 110 million. The top five products shipped to the country are engine parts, electric motors, plywood, liquid pumps and furniture.

The consul general

Milan Simandl is married and has four children. He has served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bonn, in the Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic, and in the Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

Text: Thiago Santaella/Secom
Photos: Eduardo Valente/Secom