The Secretary of Geology, Mining and Mineral Transformation of the Ministry of Mines and Energy (SGM / MME), Alexandre Vidigal, met on Friday (15) with representatives of the Japanese Embassy in Brazil to discuss issues related to value added to Brazilian niobium and graphene.

At the meeting, Japan's Foreign Ministry adviser, Hidetaka Ikeda, expressed interest in the Japanese government's efforts to implement a bilateral technical cooperation agreement, related to researchers and technicians in the sector, in the use and aggregation of value to graphene, considering that in the scope of niobium projects under development with private companies are underway.

Secretary Alexandre Vidigal explained to the authorities that Brazil has the greatest interest in establishing a partnership with that country. "The Brazilian government has its own strategies, which makes it possible to implement bilateral policies and partnerships for the development of the sector," he said. At the meeting, it was agreed the interest in developing a partnership between the two countries, and that Japan will formalize the request.

Samir Nahass, the director of the Mineral Technology Department, Enir Mendes, and the Economic Advisor of the Japanese Embassy, Erica Tanaka, also attended the meeting.