At the invitation of Italian Ambassador Antonio Bernardini, the President of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Joaquim Levy was at the Consulate General of Italy in Rio de Janeiro where he met the main Italian companies already operating in Brazil or willing to invest in this market. President Levy illustrated the new guidelines of the Bank after taking office on 7 January, focusing on opportunities for Italian companies. He then discussed the prospects for investment in infrastructure, the challenges of the industry and the transition to a low-carbon economy in Brazil. “This event – said Ambassador Bernardini – is part of the initiatives organized by the Embassy to support the presence of Italian companies in this market following the formation of the new Brazilian Government”. “Infrastructure, sustainable energy and industry – he added – are some of the main areas of potential development for Italian businesses in Brazil.”
To date, Italian companies have over 1000 branches and production facilities in Brazil, which contribute significantly to job creation According to data released at the end of April by the Brazilian Ministry of the Economy, in 2018 Italy’s investments in Brazil, exceeded those of China, the United States, Japan and France, above all thanks to the commitment of our companies in the energy sector. For 2018 the flow of investments announced by Italy amounted to about 3.5 billion dollars. Investments in the first quarter of 2019 amounted to almost 5 billion dollars.
