Premier Fico Leaves for Brazil, Will Meet President da Silva

Bratislava, December 9 (TASR) - Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) left for a several-day official visit to Brazil on Sunday (December 8) at the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Government Office's press and information department has told TASR, adding that the main objective of the trip is to deepen Slovak-Brazilian relations and mutual economic cooperation. This will be the first ever visit by a Slovak premier to Brazil and the South American region. In addition to meeting the president of Brazil, the premier's delegation will also meet members of the Brazilian government, during which several bilateral agreements should be signed, including the one on prevention of double taxation. The premier together with Economy Minister Denisa Sakova (Voice-SD) will open a business forum in Sao Paulo, which will also be attended by representatives of Slovak companies. The event is organised by the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) in cooperation with the Brazilian Trade Federation FIESP. In addition to Sakova, the premier is accompanied on his working visit by Vice-Premier and Defence Minister Robert Kalinak and Foreign Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (both Smer-SD). The delegation is due to return to Slovakia on Thursday (December 12). ko