Bill Clinton endorses Brazil

29/08/2012

Former US President Bill Clinton has given Brazil a ringing endorsement for the future.

Mr Clinton praised the country's long-term economic potential, citing its stable policy framework, plentiful natural resources and good relationship with its neighbours as positive influences.

He stated: “If I were just sitting in a room betting on the future of rising countries, I'd bet on Brazil first.”

Speaking at a forum of bankers in Sao Paul, he added that the country compares favourably to other rising economies, such as India and China. Mr Clinton noted that China is at risk of water scarcity an a depletion of its natural resources, while India is struggling to deliver a progressive and successful economic agenda.

Other political leaders, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and ex-President of Brazil, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, noted that Brazil has made great progress in reducing poverty and inequality over the past 20 years, while also making improvements in its environmental agenda.

Current Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has been working hard to further improve the country's environmental credentials and protect the rainforests in the region. There is some difficulty in balancing this with an expanding industrial sector, but efforts to deliver more sustainable forestry plantations are certainly helping.