On 11 April, at 11:00 a cooperation agreement between Riga Technical University (RTU) and the Brazilian Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN) was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
| 11.04.2011. | View gallery |
The ceremonial signing of the cooperation agreement was attended by Brazilian ambassador to Stockholm Leda Lúcia Martins Camargo, Latvian Minister of Culture Žanete Jaunzeme-Grende, Director General of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia Līga Meņģelsone, former Latvian ambassador to Brazil and Latvian MFA European Union Directorate Ambassador-Director General Artis Bērtulis, Head of the Latvian Saeima Group for Cooperation with the Brazilian Parliament Andris Buiķis, the Brazilian visiting delegation and representatives of Latvian enterprises. A special performance was given by Brazilian musicians Danilo Guanais and Alvaro Barros.
The opening of the artist César Revorêdo’s exhibition «MATA» at the Rietumu Bank exhibition hall on 11 April at 17:30 marked the start of the Brazil Days in Riga which was lasted till 18 April.
RTU rector Leonīds Ribickis shares his view: «By cooperating with Brazilian universities and with the support of the Latvian community in Brazil we can - in the long run - facilitate an international student inflow that is five times the current number of international students at RTU. Starting from 2011, the Brazilian government has agreed to support the studying abroad of 75.000 young Brazilians. If we demonstrate excellence and quality, there is a probability that a part of these students will come to Latvia. Brazil is one of the fastest-growing economies, which is of significant importance to Latvian export companies as well, and many of these companies are also supporters of RTU. The preparation and training of young engineers is where I see our contribution to the cooperation of both countries».
The signing of the RTU and UFRN cooperation agreement and the establishment of the Latvia-Brazil Cooperation Centre will be celebrated with an extensive program of educational and cultural events, namely the Brazil Days in Riga, organized by RTU in collaboration with its academic and business partners and the UFRN.
Brazil Days was celebrated from 11 to 18 April in Riga and included guest lectures by Brazilian artists for students of RTU and the Art Academy of Latvia, the exhibition of the artist César Revorêdo, titled «MATA», which was on display at the central offices of Rietumu Bank, and a marvelous concert on 18 April, with performances of Brazilian musicians and the most notable Latvian performers of Brazilian music. More information on the Brazil Days events can be found on www.rtu.lv/150. The goal of the project is to promote cooperation between Latvia and Brazil in the fields of academic matters, business and culture.
Brazil Days was supported by the Riga City Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, Rietumu Bank, AS Laima, Barons restaurant, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Art Academy of Latvia and the Riga Dome Choir School.
Centre of Business Liaison and Development of Riga Technical University would like to thank all involved and stakeholders for active involvement in the project organizational matters, support; effort, spent time and energy to the whole events would be successful as well as for participation in «Brazil Day» events.
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