To investigate the current development status of the Chinese sericulture and silk industry, strengthen exchanges and cooperation between silk enterprises in China and Brazil, and promote mutual visits and interactions among member enterprises of ISU, from June 12 to June 21, 2024, a delegation consisting of five members, including Renata Amano, Vice-Chairwoman of ISU, President of Brazilian Silk Association, and COO of BRATAC, Anna Beatriz Kariya, Manager of Supply Chain Department, Gabriele Lopes Silva, Manager of Enterprise Sustainability Department, Edivan Marcos Golba, Manager of Sericulture Department, and Roberto Massao Saito, Manager of Industrial Engineering Department of BRATAC, visit the Chinese sericulture and silk industry. Zhang Guoqiang, Chairman of ISU, warmly receives the delegation, and Bian Xing'er, Deputy Secretary-General, Pepper Liu, Secretary of ISU, accompanies the delegation throughout the visit.

On June 12, Zhang Guoqiang, Chairman of ISU and Board Chairman of Cathaya Group, holds an exchange meeting with Renata Amano, Vice-Chairwoman of ISU and COO of BRATAC. Zhang warmly welcomes the visit of Renata Amano and the BRATAC team, introduces the latest progress of ISU, and displays in detail the development history, current status, full-industrial chain of silk textile, global industrial layout, and future development strategic planning of Cathaya Group, the chairman unit of ISU. Amano expresses her gratitude to Chairman Zhang and the ISU secretariat for their thoughtful arrangements, and shares the historical evolution and current development status of BRATAC, especially introducing the industrial decline and challenges caused by multiple factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the extreme drought. At the meeting, both sides have a full discussion on the complementary advantages, technological innovation, and international cooperation between Chinese and Brazilian silk enterprises in the whole industrial chain links, and exchanges views on the proposals and topics of the International Silk Union Chairman Meeting and the international forum. After the meeting, both parties exchanged gifts and take a group photo.

During the investigation, with the support and assistance of Zhejiang Silk Association, Sichuan Silk Association, Huzhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huzhou Comprehensive Experimental Station of National Sericulture Industry Technology System, and Hechi Cocoon and Silk Industry Association, ISU secretariat accompanies the BRATAC delegation to visit the institutes and enterprises including College of Animal Science of Zhejiang University, Yayun Sericulture Base of Cathaya Group, Shengzhou Mulsun Modern Cocoon Industry Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Textile Machinery Group Co., Ltd., Huzhou Xunhe Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., Global Important Agricultural Heritage System - Zhejiang Huzhou Mulberry-dyke & Fish-pond System, Shaoxing Dayu Silkworm Egg Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Anhui Canyuan Home Textile Co., Ltd., Baoshan Cathaya Silk Co., Ltd., Sichuan Academy of Silk Sciences, Sichuan Backbone Information Technology Co., Ltd., China Cocoon and Silk Trading Market Guangxi Office, Hechi Silkworm Egg Factory, Guangxi Linshengtang Silkworm Tools Co., Ltd., Guangxi Jialian Silk Co., Ltd. They have comprehensively understanding on the current situation and trends of China's silk industry development in different silk-producing areas, including the optimizing breeding, R&D of mulberry and silkworm varieties, the production of silkworm eggs, the high-standard, large-scale and intensive construction and production management of the whole industry chain base for organic sericulture, silk reeling and weaving, industrilized silkworm breeding with artificial diet in all instars, the large-scale production process of silk quilts, the R&D, manufacturing and experimental promotion of automatic cocoon boiling and silk reeling equipment, the the R&D and application of intelligent sericulture equipment and smart sericulture systems, the R&D of new sericulture silk products and cultural tourism education, the ecological construction of mulberry-dyke & fish-pond system, the research and innovation of sericulture biotechnology applications, and the construction of the public platform for high-quality supply chains for the cocoon and silk industry.

With the special background of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil, through the platform of ISU, BRATAC inspects the Chinese silk industry, which is not only enhances communication and mutual trust between Chinese and Brazilian silk enterprises and institutions, but also lays a solid foundation for the cooperation and development of the silk industry between China and Brazil. In the future, ISU will continue to adhere to the purpose of “Communication & Cooperation, Development with Concerted Efforts”, build bridge, promote cooperation, and jointly promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of the global silk industry.

FIACAO DE SEDA BRATAC SA (BRATAC)
BRATAC, founded in 1940 by Japanese entrepreneur KENJI AMANO in Brazil, has been passed down to the third generation of the family. It is a silk enterprise with a history of over 80 years and currently the only silk reeling manufacturer in Brazil. The company possesses a complete industrial chain covering the varieties and traits protection of mulberry and silkworm, production of silkworm eggs, "company + farmer" mulberry planting, silkworm breeding and cocoon production, silk reeling, and twisting. It directly employs over 1,000 staff and sericultural technicians, and cooperates with over 1,500 sericulture families. Currently, it produces about 300 tons of silk threads annually, mainly of 6A grade quality. It has also obtained organic certifications such as GOTS and USDA. Its main export markets include France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, India, China, the United States, etc., with its products being applied in industries and fields such as textiles, cosmetics, medical and food.