MONTREAL - Premier Jean Charest is getting ready to cross the Amazon to lead a four-day trade mission, which kicks off Tuesday in Brazil.
The meetings will focus on sustainable development and renewable energy.
Charest said that Brazil is central among the countries with which Quebec would like to develop partnerships, not only in business but also in sharing research and other expertise.
Brazil, along with Russia, India and China, form is part of what's known as the BRIC, countries which are fast-rising on the international scene.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a delegation of about 50 business and other research representatives.
They include Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Sam Hamad and the Minister of International Relations, Monique Gagnon-Tremblay.
The main areas of interest for Quebec and Brazil are aerospace, information technology and communications, and energy and mining.
Quebec's Bombardier and Brazil's Embraer have competed intensely over the years for their part of the aerospace market.
Premier Charest will also take the opportunity to discuss his Northern Plan at a luncheon organized by the Quebec government office in Sao Paulo.
With a file from The Canadian Press
