The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency says representatives of 12 Chinese companies in the car and furniture upholstery business will complete today a two-visit to the Brazilian city of Novo Hamburgo.

The agency issued a written statement saying the programme for the visit by the 21 representatives includes inspections of three leather factories and attendance at an exhibition of the products of suppliers of leather goods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

The agency says its Shanghai office, the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry and an association of furniture makers in the eastern Chinese city of Haining arranged the visit.

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency quotes a representative of the tanning industry centre, Rogério Cunha, as saying: “China is the country that imports most leather from Brazil. This initiative matches all our goals and should open up new possibilities for our country’s products in this important market.”