In Asia, the SC government seeks investments in infrastructure and opening of the agricultural market

The governor of Santa Catarina,Jorginho Mello (PL), is leading an international trip to Japan and China, with meetings to present the state to infrastructure investors and to negotiate with representatives of the agribusiness sector, with a focus on exports from Santa Catarina. The SC government's trip began last Friday (13) and is scheduled to return to Brazil on the 25th, after the second part of the international mission in China.

In the first phase of the trip, the government of Santa Catarina will discuss beef exports to the Japanese market and present the state to investors to attract business, especially in the areas of technology and logistics, during "SC Day", an event that will be held this week at the Brazilian embassy in Tokyo. "Brazil has requested to open its market for beef, but the only meatpacking plant accredited by health authorities to export is in Santa Catarina . The Japanese government has already inspected the state," said the state secretary for International Relations and Strategic Projects, Paulo Bornhausen.

He also reported that the delegation will discuss technical cooperation with the JICA agency , which finances infrastructure and environmental projects, so that the Japanese institution can resume plans to contain flooding in the Itajaí Valley. “JICA conducted a study that was submitted in 2011, but [the plan] was not fully implemented. The governor will ask that this project be studied again and that JICA be able to finance the state, which is in good condition for international financing of the projects, considered important in combating flooding,” he explained.

SC government will ask China to copy Japan's model in cases of bird flu

On the eve of his trip to Asia, Jorginho Mello stated that he must deal with chicken exports after the suspension of trade in Brazilian products by the Chinese market due to an outbreak of bird flu on a farm in the municipality of Montenegro (RS). He compared the methodology adopted by the countries and asked that China start following the Japanese control model, avoiding losses for producers in Santa Catarina due to the suspension of exports.

“We sell a lot of pork and poultry to Japan and we are going to talk to China so that the country can copy Japan’s method of prohibition. When there is an outbreak [of bird flu], only the municipality is prevented. Japan does this and has very strong health protection. We want China to also adopt this same method so that we can continue exporting,” he said last week, during the event that brought together the three governors of the South of the country, in Curitiba.

The government of Santa Catarina reported that agriculture represents more than 65% of Santa Catarina's exports and the state is recognized for its high sanitary standards. From January to May 2025, Santa Catarina exported 496.8 thousand tons of chicken meat, with revenue of US$ 1.02 billion. The main destinations are the markets of Japan and China, each of the countries with approximately 10% of Santa Catarina's poultry production.

"This mission reinforces our commitment to expanding strategic markets. Japan is one of the main destinations for chicken meat, and the recent decision to regionalize the health certificate represents an important step forward in ensuring predictability and continuity in exports," said the state secretary of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Chiodini.

Partnerships with the government and export of SC apples will be discussed

After landing in Tokyo, the Santa Catarina delegation's trip began on Monday (16) with a visit to Aomori Prefecture, where the partnership that began in 1980 in fruit growing and fishing was renewed. With productive affinities, the business partners discussed traceability in agribusiness, the potential for cooperation in the area of ​​mollusks and seafood and the exchange in the production of apples , especially the Fuji variety.

According to the government of Santa Catarina, Japanese experts collaborated with producers in the early 1980s, providing technical knowledge and technology to adapt the fruit to the climate of the Santa Catarina mountains. The result was a leap in productivity and quality that made the state of Santa Catarina the largest producer of apples in Brazil , while Aomori remains the leading region in Japan.

Mello discussed the possibility of exporting the product from Santa Catarina to supply the Japanese market. “Our state has become a reference in productivity and quality in fruit farming. We know that Japan faces climate challenges that limit domestic production, and we want to be partners in meeting this demand,” said the governor, who is accompanied by the mayors of Joinville, Adriano Silva (Novo), and Blumenau, Egídio Ferrari (PL).

SC government visits aircraft company in China for regional routes

The search for private investment - whether in attracting multinational companies or in the construction of public works and service operations - is also part of the objectives of the Santa Catarina government delegation with meetings scheduled in Japan and China.

In addition to the state's presentation at "SC Day", the group will meet with Japanese giants Mitsui and Mitsubishi at the Japan Federation of Industries, known as Keidanren. "At the meeting, the technology sector and other areas will get to know the state through the large companies that already operate in Santa Catarina", commented Secretary Paulo Bornhausen.

On their last day in Japan, the delegation will visit Mitsui to discuss investments in the state and the possibility of expanding their businesses in the areas of energy, logistics and infrastructure with the business group. In China, the delegation's first stop will be the Harbin aircraft factory , which is building small aircraft for regional flights, a model that could be implemented by the state of Santa Catarina.

“There are already companies interested in exploring this service, running these lines in Santa Catarina, but it is necessary to know the equipment available in the world”, explained the state secretary in an interview with Jovem Pan .

Infrastructure giant and state-owned artificial intelligence company visit China

With infrastructure projects such as the construction of Via Mar - a 145-kilometer highway with six lanes, three in each direction, connecting Joinville to the Florianópolis bypass - the Mello administration intends to get to know the Chinese giants to attract private capital. Among the scheduled agendas is the delegation's visit to Power China , which is interested in investments in logistics and the energy sector, and a visit to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), one of the largest companies in the world in the construction of infrastructure.

CCCC is part of the consortium responsible for the construction of the largest bridge in Latin America between Salvador and Itaparica , a project that was suspended and should be resumed after an agreement with the Court of Auditors of the State of Bahia (TCE-BA). The delegation from Santa Catarina will also visit the state-owned technology company Inspur , which operates in the artificial intelligence, servers and data centers sector in China.

“The governor is very interested in attracting investment in data centers . Brazil is a place with abundant energy, which is necessary in the case of data centers , which are sources of artificial intelligence. For the state to be part of this, we will talk to China,” revealed Bornhausen.