Further boosting economic/trade relations with Brazil, encouraging Italian businesses’ penetration of the world’s 6th largest economy and the 2nd largest in the Americas, is the goal of the System Italy mission led by Under-Secretary Marta Dassù from 21-24 May.
New formula: 15 regions participating, 200 businesses
The new formula of this mission, enlarged for the second time to the regions, responds to the need for joint institutional efforts at boosting the exports on which our country so heavily depends. A total of 15 regions are participating: Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche (coordinators), Molise, Piedmont, Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto and the autonomous province of Trento.
Also participating are 200 businesses, selected from among 700 applicants, with a specific focus on the aerospace, agri-alimentary, automotive, contract, constructions, energy, social housing, wood/furniture, logistics, mechanics, nautical and fashion sectors.
As the port of entry to the markets of Mercosur (common Latin American market), Brazil offers Italian businesses major opportunities for collaboration and investments, along with the exploitation of enormous oil deposits, and a business volume associated with the purchase of platforms, support ships, security, pipes and valves that could open up major opportunities for Italian suppliers of goods and services to the oil industry. Brazil has been identified as a priority in the Made in Italy Plan of the Ministry of Economic Development, not least in consideration of the possibility of generating synergies in conjunction with the 2011/2012 year of Italy in Brazil (“Momento Italia-Brasile”), and the holding of the World Soccer Cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016.
Dynamism and strong consumer trend
With a population of 191 million, and a middle class that has been growing steadily for nearly a decade, Brazil has a domestic market with a strong propensity for consumerism. The country is showing signs of remarkable dynamism, having become one of the world’s top 10 economies and a respected member of the BRICS, with a GDP that rose by 7.6% in 2010 and by 2.7% in 2011, and growth forecasts of 3.3% for 2012 and 4.5% in 2013 (source: ICE).
The mission will make stops in the cities of Sao Paolo, San Josè Dos Campos, Curitiba, Santos and Belo Horizonte, all of which are highly specialised and have a strong inclination for exports. Planned are discussions with experts, bilateral institutional meetings, guided tours and “B2B” meetings with selected local counterparts. Things will kick off on Monday 21 May with a joint plenary session in Sao Paolo and the presentation of trade, business and investment collaboration opportunities. A bilateral Italo-Brazilian forum will be held the following day leave room. Parallel sessions will follow in various other locations, with thematic “B2B” meetings.
