Japan Loans Petrobras $500m to Build Ship Platforms

Brazil's state-controlled oil company Petrobras signed on Friday a $500 million loan from Japan to build eight ship platforms for the oil industry, as part of the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Brazil.

Japan will also help Brazil's state development bank BNDES promote investment by small and medium-sized companies in Brazil through its bank for international cooperation, JBIC, according to another deal signed in the Brazilian presidential palace.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Writing by Silvio Cascione; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli)