The West Virginia Development Office invites you to participate in our Trade Mission to Brazil on September 19 – 25, 2009. Brazil is the economic engine of South America, presenting great opportunities for U.S. businesses. Brazil enjoys a growing middle class, increasing internal demand for goods and services, and while being affected by the global economic downturn, seems to be at least somewhat protected from the dramatic economic downturns experienced by other countries.
As of February 2009, the Brazilian Central Bank lowered ’09 growth expectations to 1.5%. In comparison, overall economic growth worldwide in 2009 is expected to be 0.5%. While Brazil is a large and very diverse economy, it is rich in agricultural, mineral and industrial resources and offers substantial market opportunities for West Virginia companies. However, doing business in Brazil requires intimate knowledge of the local environment, including both the explicit as well as implicit costs of doing business.
One of the best ways to enter the Brazilian market is to participate in a West Virginia Trade Mission.
Mission Details
It is essential that a U.S. business entering the Brazilian market work through a qualified agent or distributor. The West Virginia Development Office will work closely with the U.S. Commercial Service in Brazil to identify business partners who meet your qualifications, and to arrange appointments with appropriate local agents, distributors, and other potential partners for your company. Your appointments are individual, face-to-face meetings, which have been pre-screened and pre-arranged, based on mutual interest between you and the potential business partner. The Commercial Specialist working with you will identify these business prospects based on your responses to the Gold Key Market Interest Questionnaire. Our goal is to provide each participant with up to 5 individual business appointments per day.
In addition to these meetings with pre-qualified business partners, we will organize the following:
- Networking reception, hosted by the U.S. Consul General
- Transportation to Business Meetings
- Interpreter assigned to assist you during your
meetings
- Mission brochure in Portuguese & English
- Market briefing by U.S. Department of Commerce Staff
Itinerary (tentative)
September
19 Depart
U.S.
September
20 Arrive
Sao Paulo, Brazil
September 21 - 22 Business
meetings Sao Paulo
Travel
to Belo Horizonte, Brazil
September 23 - 25 Business
Meetings Belo Horizonte
Visit
ExpoSibram (mining equipment companies only)
September
26 Return
to U.S.
Best Prospects
While all industries are encouraged to explore this market for potential business partners, the U.S. Department of Commerce indicates that the Brazilian market offers excellent trade opportunities in the following sectors:
- Airports & Aviation
- Medical Equipment
- Electrical Power Systems
- Mining Equipment
- Oil & Gas
- Safety & Security
- Transportation – Ports/Railways
- Pollution Control Equipment
Cost
Participation fee of $250 per company includes business meeting arrangements, in-country transportation, interpreters, bi-lingual mission brochure, receptions and briefings.
Travel, lodging, and personal expenses are the responsibility of each company representative. The estimated total cost of the program will be as follows:
- Participation fee...................... $250
- Airfare (economy class)........ $1,300
- Hotel.................................... $1,000
- Personal Expenses................. $300
- TOTAL................................ $2,850
Register Your Interest
If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete the Registration Form below by June 30, or you may contact Debra Martin at dmartin@wvdo.org or 304-957-2042 for assistance with any questions you may have.
or
Complete and return (fax) this form: Trade Mission to Brazil Registration Form (235KB)