Government threatens to withdraw BB sponsorship of Agrishow

The federal government has threatened to cancel Banco do Brasil’s (BB) sponsorship of the International Fair of Agricultural Technology in Action (Agrishow), which starts this Monday (1st) in Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of São Paulo, after a bad be generated by the confirmation of the presence of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) at the event.

On Tuesday (25), the Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, decided that he will not participate in the fair, the main one in the sector in Latin America, after the management of the fair informed that Bolsonaro would participate in the opening of the event, which could generate turmoil or embarrassment. According to the newspaper “Folha de S.Paulo”, the president of Agrishow, Francisco Matturro, would have suggested that Fávaro participate in the event on Tuesday (2) to avoid meeting Bolsonaro, but the minister chose not to attend the fair.

On Friday (28), the Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio França, questioned BB’s sponsorship of Agrishow after the episode. “If @agrishowoficial doesn’t want the federal government at the event, I don’t know if @BancodoBrasil and @govbr should continue sponsoring the event.” Following, the Minister of the Secretariat of Communication, Paulo Pimenta, joined France. “To the extent that the event loses its institutional character and to the extent that there was this discourtesy towards the minister [da Agricultura, Carlos Fávaro] and with Banco do Brasil, which would accompany him at the event, sponsorship is no longer justified”, said Pimenta, according to Folha.

In the publication, BB informed that it will be present at Agrishow through its commercial activities to carry out business and serve its customers. “BB will take the appropriate measures if, during the fair, there is any deviation from the planned business purposes.” The organization of Agrishow informed that it would not comment on the subject until it is officially notified by the bank.

BB is one of the main sponsors of Agrishow. This year, the bank expects to generate R$ 1.5 billion in business at the agricultural fair.