MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lula da Silva invites Mexico to join South American trade space

Pte. Calderon and Pte. Lula da Silva

Brazilian president Lula da Silva has invited Mexico to join South America in an only trade block with global aspirations. The Brazilian leader currently visiting Mexico with a numerous trade delegation also called on his hosts to join Mercosur.

Mexican president Felipe Calderón thanked his Brazilian counterpart for the invitation to join Mercosur during a business forum with corporate leaders from both countries. Brazil has insisted on several occasions that Mexico and Brazil should team up to create a joint investments market, particularly for energy. Lula da Silva said the integration process in Latinamerica is possible and there are "immense and extraordinary opportunities" for Mexican and Brazilian companies to associate and tackle international projects. "It's a historic opportunity to look for opportunity niches. We must be bold and increase our countries potential, it's time we stopped caring about fear and moved on". Lula da Silva was particularly interested in pointing out the possibilities of government owned oil companies such as Petrobras and Pemex, operating as an only company searching for oil and gas. He also invited Mexico to participate in developing alternative fuels such as ethanol of which Brazil is a leading global powder. President Calderon said "we have geographic position to the north but our heart is in the south and in Latin America".