Adrian Frater, News Editor
Cezar Amaral - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
HIS EXCELLENCY Cezar Amaral, the Brazilian Ambassador to Jamaica, is predicting that the Jamaican economy will derive significant benefits from the use of Brazilian expertise and technology in its bid to resuscitate and transform the local sugar industry.
According to Ambassador Amaral, who sounded almost certain of the deal, the proposed partnership which will see Jamaican sugar interests using Brazilian expertise to resuscitate local sugar, would provide a cushion from the expected fall-out in the industry as a result of a 39 per cent cut in the price paid for sugar from African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states by the European Union.
ASSISTANCE FOR LOCAL FACTORIES
Under the proposed partnership with the Brazilians, local factories are slated to get assistance in areas such as sugar cane growing, sugar production, the use of new technology, capital investment and the much-talked-about ethanol production.
"At this level ethanol is very profitable and sugar is also having a good price in the international market," said Ambassador Amaral, who noted that all Brazilian sugar factories produce a mix of sugar and ethanol. "I see tremendous prospects for producing both, here in Jamaica."
Ambassador Amaral also pointed out that the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica was now poised to start mixing gasolene with ethanol by May, replacing the more expensive MTB, which is now being used.
"It costs much less to mix gasolene with ethanol... at least half the price of using MTB," said Ambassador Amaral. "Jamaica will start saving substantial amounts of money in their foreign account as soon as Petrojam starts using ethanol."
EXPERTS SLATED TO ARRIVE
As the planned sugar liaison between Jamaica and Brazil continues to take shape, Ambassador Amaral said that three Brazilian experts are slated to arrive in Jamaica by mid-March to share their expertise with local sector players.
"One of them is an expert on engines and ethanol, one specialises in sugar cane production and the other specialises in financial and economic matters relating to the use of ethanol," said Ambassador Amaral. "They will be available to (assist) the Jamaican Government in implementing policies in their specialist areas during the two weeks they will be here."
In looking to the full implementation of the new Brazil/Jamaica sugar partnership, especially in regard to the use of ethanol, Ambassador Amaral said it is only a matter of time before it comes to fruition.
