Qatar is interested in buying minority stakes in Brazil's state-run oil giant Petrobras and Banco do Brasil, a Brazilian cabinet official told Reuters on Wednesday. The investments would come as the two countries seek to strengthen ties, with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva looking to raise Brazil's profile in international circles. Lula met with Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Qatar's emir, earlier on Wednesday and signed a series of consular and financial agreements. Brazil is seeking Qatar's investments ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics to meet massive funding requirements for airports, highways and sports venues.