Celso Amorim, who arrived in Singapore from a two-day visit to Vietnam, was speaking to reporters after attending a business seminar.

The trip is part of his government's effort 'for having closer relations with countries in South-east Asia and the Far East,' he said.

'Our trade with the region is still very uneven,' Mr Amorim said, calling trade with Singapore already significant while with Vietnam it is 'almost negative' but offers much potential.

Brazil's junior trade minister Welber Barral said late last year that his country is one of the 30 biggest exporters in the world, according to the World Trade Organisation, and by 2010 will be among the 25 biggest.

'What we have seen in Brazil is that our trade is based more and more with the countries in the developing world,' Mr Amorim said.

'If we take a country like Singapore, our exports, our trade both ways, was multiplied by four in three years. The same goes for many other countries.' Mr Amorim said Brazilian companies are also now making their presence felt with foreign investment.

'Brazil companies are establishing themselves in India. You have steel mills wishing to go to Vietnam,' and shoe factories in China, he said.

Ultimately, he said, he would like to see a trade agreement between the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) and South America's Mercosur trading bloc.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said earlier that he was planning a trip this year to Timor Leste, Indonesia and Vietnam, most likely in June. -- AFP