(6th September). Business between Brazil and Portugal between January and August fell 37% compared to the same period in 2008, down to €735 million, said a government source. The main Brazilian products sold in Portugal are oil, soybeans, iron and steel. Brazil imports from Portugal mainly olive oil, wine, cod and casts(?).
‘AIDA Cruises Returns – The first visit of the new cruise ship of AIDA will be on 16th of September’. The visits of cruise ships start to increase again this month, after 3 slack months whilst the cruise ships concentrate more on Northern European circuits. The German cruise company AIDA returns this month with cruise legs between the Canaries and Madeira, using its newest ship ‘AIDAluna’ (pictured) which came into service on 22nd April.
‘ANAM meet with Ryanair in Beijing – A meeting is scheduled for the International Fair being held this weekend in China’. Ryanair contacted ANAM, the operators of Madeira Airport, at the end of last month, with a view to a possible scheduled route opening to our island. The Diário says that the response has already gone to the company responsible for the Irish low-cost airline, and it was suggested a meeting between the two parties at the next international conference "Routes", to be held between 13th and 15th September in the city of Beijing (China). An estimated 92% of the world’s major airports are represented there. Roberto Santa Clara Gomes, Deputy Director of Airports on Madeira, and responsible for the sales and marketing of ANAM, will be in Beijing and in charge of contacts with Ryanair. For the airline it is not the first time of showing an interest in flying to Madeira. Ryanair has been trying for 10 years to strike a deal, but the demands from the airport are too high. Ryanair has a new base now in Porto, which opened last week. Bernardo Trindade, secretary of state for tourism in Portugal, talked about Madeira during a meeting at the inauguration last week, with the chairman of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary.