Brazil is looking to significantly increase imports of fertilizers from Kazakhstan as the two countries deepen trade and industrial cooperation, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said after talks with Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev in Astana.

Speaking at a press briefing, Vieira said the sides discussed expanding agricultural trade, including fertilizer and chemical supplies from Kazakhstan to support Brazil’s massive farming sector, The Caspian Post reports via Kazinform.

“Kazakhstan is one of the world’s largest fertilizer exporters, and Brazil is the second-largest food exporter in the world. There is enormous potential for cooperation here,” Vieira said. “Brazil imports around 40 million tons of fertilizers annually, so we believe we can increase purchases from Kazakhstan.”

The minister also highlighted plans to strengthen sanitary and regulatory cooperation to simplify access for Brazilian goods to the Kazakh market and diversify food supplies.

Vieira noted that several Brazilian companies are already active in Kazakhstan, including WEG, Embraer and Watersheds Technologies, which provide technologies for mining, logistics and water management projects.

He added that Embraer is interested in expanding its footprint in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia by offering aircraft for the regional aviation market and KC-390 military transport planes for the Kazakh Armed Forces.

The visit also featured a major business forum bringing together officials and companies from both countries. The event concluded with the signing of cooperation memorandums between the agriculture ministries of Kazakhstan and Brazil in livestock farming, as well as between KAZAKH INVEST and ApexBrasil.

Kazakhstan and Brazil are also discussing new agricultural ventures, including organic soybean cultivation projects in Central Asia, while trade turnover between the two countries is expected to grow toward $1 billion.