US President visits Brazil March 19 and 20, with a delegation of about 1,000 people

Just a few days before the arrival in Brazil of US president Barack Obama, the advisers who are preparing the visits to Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro have confirmed that the trip has three focus points: economic, political and social. The economic focus is the result of Brazil's economic growth, creating opportunities for partnership and cooperation; the political focus is the result of Brazil's role in Latin America, and the social focus arises from the common issues that unite the two peoples.

The President is visiting Brazil with a delegation made up of about 1,000 people, including aides, security guards, businesspeople and support staff. Obama is also bringing his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7. While the president is engaged on business commitments, the First Lady and the children will have a separate agenda, including trips to the Botanic Gardens and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.  

Officially, the White House spokesperson, Jay Carney, said Obama, on his first visit to Latin America - to Brazil, Chile and El Salvador between March 19 and 23 - will address a "wide variety of themes. " The list includes economic issues, employment generation through increased trade and partnership, cooperation in energy and security, shared values and other issues of global and regional importance.

In Brasilia, the list of 15 to 20 agreements to be signed by President Obama and President Rousseff is being finalized. Among the issues are economic partnerships and the tackling of sexual and racial discrimination. 

On two separate occasions in Brasilia, Obama will meet with businesspeople. Initially, the President will take part in the ending of a business forum organized by the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brazil). Obama will then speak to about 400 businesspeople at the Brazil-United States Business Forum - organized by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and the American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham).

 As with the speeches he has already given to large audiences - in Berlin (Germany) in 2008 and in Cairo (Egypt) in 2009 - Obama will speak to Brazilian society in Cinelandia, in Rio de Janeiro, which will be transmitted onto a large screen with Portuguese subtitles. 

Source:
Agencia Brasil