Brazil beckons

In the midst of a global recession, Brazil's economy has remained remarkably stable. Compared to OECD estimates for world GDP growth, the Brazilian Central Bank's estimates for Brazil paint an encouraging picture for the country and its trading partners. The 2009 world growth estimates are a gloomy -2.7% while Brazil's GDP will neither grow nor shrink, at 0%. By 2010, the world can expect growth of 1.2% and Brazil a growth of 3.5%,

The State of Pernambuco ranks as the second biggest economic centre in north-eastern Brazil and in 2007 posted a GDP of US$ 25.8 billion. In addition, between 1997 and 2005, the region's GDP grew by an average 3%, compared to the country's overall GDP average growth rate of 2.45%.

Bilateral trade opportunities

Fecomercio, the goods, trade, services and tourism federation of the state is hosting the trade mission with the support of SEBRAE, a Brazilian development agency committed to the support and development of small and micro enterprises.

Structured as a seminar and business-to-business networking session, delegates will meet to discuss and negotiate bilateral trade opportunities, spanning several sectors. The forum will include an address to South African business by Eduardo Campos, Governor of the State of Pernambuco.

Josias Albuquerque, president of Fecomercio and leader of the mission to South Africa says, “Trading with businesses in the Pernambuco region has a number of advantages - the state's excellent infrastructure, which includes world class air, rail and road networks as well as Atlantic seaboard ports like Suape. The private sector has also received a boost from government partnerships, coupled with substantial investment into expanding the state's infrastructure. This in turn has resulted in a stable and sustainable new economic and political environment in the region.”

Industry representation

• Retail trade;
• Hospital and laboratory products & chemicals;
• Office furniture & furniture;
• Food; water & juice;
• Agribusiness;
• Cosmetics;
• Stationery materials (specifically paper);
• Plastics, including water compact stations, sewage compact stations, rpvc tubing for water and sewage & reinforced pipes and fittings;
• IT
• AD DIPER, a small business development agency whose mission is to open new markets for the State of Pernambuco's business sectors.

Seminar speakers, topics

Apart from scheduled meetings with potential partners, South African delegates will receive a thorough briefing on Brazil, Pernambuco and the business and investment opportunities that exist for bilateral trade between this region and Africa. Structured as a seminar, this will take place between 09:00 and 12:00 followed by an afternoon networking session.

Speakers include Governor Eduardo Campos, Claudio Marinho, ex-Minister for Science, Technology and Environment of the State of Pernambuco; and Mari Carmen Rial Gerpe, First-Secretary and Head of Trade Section of the Embassy of Brazil in Pretoria. Topics include:
• Opportunities and Modern Relations between Brazil and South Africa;
• Doing Business and Investing in South Africa;
• Business, Investment and Cooperation Opportunities in Northeast Brazil and Pernambuco;
• Innovation and Technology on Course to Internalisation;
• Know-How of the State of Pernambuco in IT - An Experience of the Digital Port (a Technological Park);
• Professional Education - Strategy for Internalisation

Join the growing economy

Free of conflict, defender of international laws and promoter of peace and progress among nations, Brazil is a stable country on an extraordinary growth path. Studies by Goldman Sachs indicate Brazil will have the world's fifth largest economy in 2050.

Albuquerque concludes, “We invite South African and African importers, who are potential trading counterparts with companies from the State of Pernambuco in the represented sectors to participate in the seminar and networking session on 20 October 2009. Participation is free to accredited companies.”

Accreditation information is available at www.tradeprojects.co.za or contact .