MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Joint Mercosur office in Berlin

Mercosur opened this week its first joint overseas office in Germany, the block's second trading partner and the first from the European Union..

Mario Villalba from the Brazilian Foreign Trade Promotion Office said the Berlin office will coordinate efforts in the European Union and anticipated the opening of similar representations in United States and Asia.

Although the office is lodged in the Brazilian Embassy building in Berlin, delegates from the four full members of Mercosur will be working and the chair will rotate in direct relation to the block's presidency.

"Mercosur is a success story and the third economic block in the Western hemisphere after the European Community and Nafta in North America", said Mr. Villalba during the inauguration, adding that 80% of the block's trade is overseas and 25% with the European Union.

Mr. Villalba pointed out that Germany represents 5% of the block's trade with exports reaching 5,3 billion US dollars and imports from Mercosur 3,9 billion.

However trade with Mercosur only represents 0,91% of Germany's overall trade "so there's ample space to advance and occupy".

Mr. Villalba finally pointed out that two events anticipate the good moment for the opening, "Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the fact Argentina is overcoming its financial crisis".

"We believe the worst in Argentina is over, and the country is recovering. Crisis are good in so far they force us to react and in this case it has shown the importance of fighting together", stressed Mr. Villalba.