17th to 23rd February 2008
The ABCC and the Câmara Oficial de Comércio Brasil-Australia hosted the official visit of the Brazilian delegation conducted by the Vice-Governor of the Minas Gerais State, the Honorable Antonio Augusto Anastasia. The delegation comprised of FIEMG (Federation of Industries of Minas Gerais, SEBRAE (Department of Small Business Development), COPASA (Water and Sanitation Board of Minas Gerais), members of the Minas Gerais State Parliament, State Department of Science and Technology, private and public Universities as the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Federal University of Lavras and UNA University and companies in ICT, software, mining, energy, furniture & design and even a football club amongst others.
The State of Minas Gerais is the 2nd most important State in Brazil, accounting for 11% of the Brazilian GDP and is the largest beef breeder and exporter of iron ore and steel in Brazil. It also accounts for 1/3 of the Brazilian energy generation and has some of the most important Universities. It has close to 20 million inhabitants and plays a significant part in the Brazilian economy.
The delegation visited Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane where seminars were co-hosted with the support of COALAR (Council on Australia Latin America Relations) as well as the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, Invest Victoria and Trade Queensland.
The objective of the visit according to the Vice-Governor of MG was to strengthen the institutional and governmental relationship between the State of Minas Gerais and Australia, establish business partnerships for the Brazilian delegates and promote trade and commerce opportunities.
The visit was fundamental to raising awareness of the market potential and to the political, economical and social developments between the countries, promoting direct linkages between business-to-business, business-to-government and government-to-government outcomes and relationships.
Trade Mission HIGHLIGHTS:
SYDNEY : 17th to 18th February 2008
Environment and Climate Change:
Vice-Governor Anastasia discussed climate change and sustainability issues with State Minister Koperberg, as it presents a serious concern for the State of Minas Gerais as the leading mining state in Brazil. New developments are taking place to improve sustainability and diminish carbon emissions by the mining sector in Minas Gerais.
Plantar Group:
Established in Minas Gerais in 1967, represented by Carbon Credit Business Development Manager, Mr. Fabio Marques, the company is an example of successful implementation of innovative solutions to reduce environment hazard promoting the use of renewable sources of energy (charcoal from planted forests) instead of fossil or non-renewable sources (coal coke or charcoal from non-renewable native forests) in the pig iron industry in the State of Minas Gerais. Mr. Marques explained that Plantar’s goal is to produce the world’s cleanest primary iron, by using planted biomass - established in accordance with strict social and environmental principles; and to generate carbon credits in compliance with the Clean Development Mechanism - CDM (Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol).
Green Party:
The Hon. Mr. Tiago Ulisses MP, Member of Parliament and Minas Gerais State Leader of “Partido Verde” (Green Party), discussed issues related to climate change and global warming with the leader of NSW Green Party, Ms Lee Rhiannon MLC at the NSW Parliament House emphasizing the importance in exchanging information regarding policy within their political parties.
Trade and Commerce:
Accompanied by Minas Gerais International Relations Manager Mr Helder Guimarães, Chief of Staff Mr. Gustavo Magalhães, Consul-General of Brazil Mr. Kywal de Oliveira, Vice-Governor Anastasia discussed trade links and opportunities between Minas Gerais and NSW with State Minister Ian McDonald and Mr. Adrian Wood, Senior Manager, International Business Relations at the Department of State & Regional Development (DSRD).
The meeting followed the ABCC opening seminar at the DSRD office in Sydney where FIEMG’s International Relations Manager, Mr. Carlos Abijaodi’s presentation focussed on areas of opportunities in imports, exports and partnerships to be explored in the manufacturing sector.
With a membership of over 70,000 companies and industries, FIEMG supports and assists Minas Gerais businesses to optimize international links with a comprehensive export program similar to those of the DSRD in NSW.
Ms. Margarida Fantoni, head of SEBRAE, the Department for Small Business Development has exchanged information with the DSRD as to the structure of both institutions and explained the importance of SEBRAE in the development of small and medium size businesses whishing to compete in the international arena.
Ezequiel de Melo Campos (Regional Director – Brasil-Australia Chamber of Commerce), Cristina Talacko (ABCC President), The Hon. Prof. Antonio Augusto Anastasia (Vice-Governor of Minas Gerais), The Hon. Lafayette Andrada MP(Member for Minas Gerais Parliament), Helio Marchi (President – Brasil-Australia Chamber of Commerce)
Carlos Abijaodi (International Relations Manager – FIEMG)
Margarida Souto Fantoni – Director of Department for Small Business Development - SEBRAE
Kywal de Oliveira (Consul-General of Brazil), Cristina Talacko (ABCC President), Adrian Wood (Senior Manager, Int. Business Relations DSRD) The Hon. Antonio Anastasia (Vice Governor of Minas Gerais)
The Hon. Lafayette Andrada MP(Member for Minas Gerais Parliament), Flavio dos Santos (Federal Centre of Technological Education of MG), The Hon. Antonio Anastasia (Vice-Governor of MG), Kywal de Oliveira (Consul-General of Brazil), Prof. Ronaldo Pena (Chancellor – Federal University of MG), Prof. Elias Fialho (Vice-Chancellor – Federal University of Lavras) and Adonias Costa da Silveira (INATEL – National Institute of Telecommunications)Melbourne: 18th to 19th February 2008
Ministerial Meetings:
At the Department of Investment in Victoria, the Hon. Theo Theophanous, Minister for Industry and Trade, Information and Communication Technology and Major Projects has welcomed the Vice-Governor and his delegation making special mention to cooperation and collaboration in the sectors of biotechnology, ICT, dairy technology, education and sport. Present were Mr. Telmo Languiller, Parliamentary Secretary for Human Resources who has been working towards a closer relationship with South American countries through MOUs in scientific collaboration and exchanged knowledge in the fields of agricultural and biological sciences and related technologies and Mr. Bernard Wheelahan (Chairman for COALAR).
The official delegation also visited the Victoria Parliament House received by Victoria’s Deputy Premier the Hon. Robert Hulls MP, Ms at a Luncheon hosted by the Hon Robert Smith, President of the Legislative Council and participated at a meeting with the Hon Joe Helper MP to discuss collaboration in the agricultural sector.
The Hon. Telmo Languiller MP (Parliamentary Secretary for Human Resources), The Hon. Antonio Anastasia MP (Vice-Governor - MG) and The Hon. Joe Helper MP (Minister for Agriculture and Small Business).
Visit to Victoria Parliament - Cristina Talacko(ABCC), The Hon. Lafayette Andrada MP (Member for MG Parliament), The Hon. Jenny Lindell MP (Speaker - Legislative Assembly), The Hon. Robert Smith MP (President - Legislative Council), The Hon Antonio Anastasia (Vice-Governor MG), The Hon. Rob Hulls MP (Deputy Premier of Victoria), The Hon. Glaucia Brandao MP (Member for MG Parliament) and the Hon. Tiago Ulisses MP (Member for MG Parliament).
Vice-Governor Anastasia, Bernard Wheelahan (COALAR Chairman), CristinaTalacko (ABCC) , The Hon. Theo Theophanous MP
Seminar at Victoria Investment Center:Vice-Governor Anastasia, The Hon. Theo Theophanous MP and Telmo Languiller MP
Seminar at Victoria Investment Center:Cristina Talacko (ABCC President)
Research Collaboration:
The University of Lavras (UFLA), one of the most important agricultural universities in Brazil located in south Minas Gerais State and renowned for research programs in biosciences and information technology was represented at the delegation by its Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Elias Tadeu Fialho who holds a PhD from Purdue University and is a Professor on Pig Production at UFLA.
Dr Fialho visited La Trobe University where he met with Professor German Spangenberg, Executive Director at the Biosciences Research Division of the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Director of the Plant Biotechnology Centre and Professor with the Department of Botany at La Trobe University. Discussions culminated with an invitation to the UFLA by La Trobe to sign an agreement in research collaboration in the next few months where the parties commit to the development of joint activities, which will lead to an expansion of co-operation in scientific areas.
Professor Elias Fialho (Lavras University) and Dr Spangenberg ( La Trobe University)Links in Education:
The education delegates visited the Melbourne University and RMIT. UNA University, the largest and fastest growing private University in the State of Minas Gerais had discussions with a number of Universities seeking to establish partnerships to develop student exchange programs, further interaction between UNA and Australian academic bodies and corporate relations with Australian enterprises concerning market and foreign affairs between Australia and Brazil. Mr. Daniel Faccini Castanho, Vice President of UNA is also interested in initiatives towards environmental responsibility and corporate sustainability.
BRISBANE: 20th to 22nd February 2008
Memorandum of Understanding between Queensland and Minas Gerais States:
As result of the long-term friendship between QLD and MG States, following many trade and official visits by the Queensland Government representatives to Minas Gerais, both States represented by Vice –Governor Anastasia and the Hon. John Mickel MP, Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations have signed on the 23rd February 2008 an MOU which will provide a strong foundation to build links and collaboration between the States.
Since 2001, the Queensland Government has developed strategic relationships in key markets in Latin America, including Brazil, which have helped deliver in excess of A$110 million in export income from knowledge-intensive mining goods and services including equipment, technologies and services. Brazilian investment in Queensland has also been expanding with CVRD, the world’s second largest diversified mining company in market capitalization, establishing its international coal HQ in Brisbane. Over the past four years, Queensland has been involved in a large number of activities with the State of Minas Gerais, particularly in the areas of mining, the environment and training and education. Brazil is Queensland’s 12th largest merchandise export destination and the largest source market in Latin America for students. As at November 2007, there were 3517 Brazil students enrolled to study in Queensland. Over the last 5 years, the number of Brazil students studying in Queensland has grown on average by 24%.
According to Minister John Mickel, the Queensland – Brazil trading relationship will be even stronger with the Joint Declaration of Cooperation and will promote cooperation in the sectors of mining related industries, education and training, and infrastructure including airport infrastructure.
Memorandum of Understanding between Queensland Roar FC and Atlético Mineiro FC:
Queensland Roar signed an agreement with the Atletico Mineiro Football Club of Minas Gerais to facilitate cooperation across a number of areas including training, player loans and transfers, cross promotional activities, and the exchange and development of sports medicine, physiology, fitness training techniques, administration methods and information.
The Queensland Government recently announced a sponsorship deal with Queensland Roar, which sees the State’s premier football club as Queensland ambassadors for multiculturalism. With this important agreement with Atletico Mineiro, Queensland Roar is helping promote multicultural Queensland in multicultural Brazil.
Another highlight of the Minas Gerais visit to Brisbane was to meeting with Vice-Governor Anastasia accompanied by His Excellency Fernando de Mello Barreto, Brazilian Ambassador to Australia with Deputy Premier Hon. Paul Lucas MP, at his ministerial office discussing the synergies between the States in the areas of renewable energy, ethanol and bio fuel production and technology, and the importance in collaborating as partners.
Vice-Governor Anastasia and Minister John Mickel
Alexandre Faria (International Relations Director - Atletico MineiroFC), Vice-Governor Anastasia and Lawrence Oudendyk (CEO – Queensland Roar FC)
Cristina Talacko (ABCC President), Vice Governor Anastasia , FrankFarina (Queensland Roar’s head coach), Ambassador Fernando de Mello Barreto
Luncheon hosted by Vale Australia
Marcelo Matos (Vale), Fernando Nobrega (CFO Vale), Cristina Talacko (ABCC
President), Daniel Castanho (UNA University), Claudia Jarjoura (ABCC Executive Secretary, Fabio Marques (Plantar Group)
Trade Queensland Business Forum:
A series of speakers from the Queensland and Minas Gerais Government took place at the Seminar: “Trade Queensland Business Forum” with the participation of Mr Gary Fenlon MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations, Mr John Strano (Executive Director, Manufacturing and Investment), Mr Lee Reiken (Department of Mines and Energy) concluded by Luncheon hosted at the Conrad Treasury Hotel.
Other highlights of the visit to Brisbane were the tour and seminar at Trade Coast, round table at Queensland University with Vice-President Professor Trevor Grigg, visit by COPASA (Minas Gerais Water and Santiation Board) to the Wivenhoe Dam and Queensland Water Board Commission and visit to the Suncorp Stadium.
Helio Marchi (COCBA President) and Ambassador Fernando de Mello Barreto
The Hon.Tiago Ulisses MP(Member of Green Party), Vice Governor Anastasia, CristinaTalacko (ABCC), Ambassador Fernando de Mello Barreto , Gary Fenlon MP,
Denis Garcia (COCBA).
Round Table at Queensland University
Meeting with Deputy Premier Paul Lucas MP and Vice Governor AnastasiaMining Prospects:
Mr. Renato Ciminelli, executive manager of the Minas Gerais Mining Pool of Excellence and State Secretariat of Science, Technology & Superior Education of Minas Gerais joined the delegation in order to foster a closer relationship between Australia and Brazil in cooperative research and innovation programs.
Mr. Ciminelli, a Chemical Engineer from Penn State University, with an MBA from USP - University of São Paulo and currently finishing his Doctorate Degree at UNICAMP in Geology and Natural Resources Management is seeking to develop closer links with the ABCC in order to set up a Mining Action Group to establish programs between the countries in:
• Preliminary cooperation;
• Innovation promotion at small and medium mining companies;
• New technologies in materials for environmental applications;
• Diagnostics of process improvements demand at the private sector;
• Promotion of international R&D cooperation projects;
• Water in mining – conservation, preservation, process improvement, indicators;
• Management and conservation pilot projects for water basins in mining regions;
• Sustainability as a pillar of the Mineral & Metallurgical Pole of Excellence;
• Legal Studies Institute for Mining and Sustainability;
• Structuring a proposal for Cooperative Research Institutes;
• Promotion of industrial poles anchored on mining and metallurgy.
Mr. Ceminelli is returning to Australia in April to give continuance to the project.
Notes on the Minas Gerais business delegates:
MegaBlack Models: The entrepreneur Leonardo Furman took part at the trade mission aiming at prospecting business for two enterprises: Modelling agency MegaBlack Models and promoting highly acclaimed Brazilian fashion clothing designer Victor Dzenk.
MegaBlack Models is the largest modeling agency in the state of Minas Gerais, promoting events, catwalk fashion shows, publicity campaigns, TV commercials, catalogues and fashion editorials. The agency has starred personalities as the model and MTV presenter Daniela Cicarelli and Miss Brazil Natália Guimarães.
Due to the similarities between Brazilian and Australian fashion markets, MegaBlack Models is willing to have a closer relationship with enterprises in the fashion segment in order to present Brazilian models to Australia as well as Australian models to Brazil.
ATS Informática: Represented by Executive Director Geovanne Teles, ATS is a listed company specializing in software for automation and business management and has established many links in Australia for the development of partnerships in the management of software for mobile telephone vendors. ATM’s most significant customer in Brazil is TIM, the largest vendor in the country as well as being partners with Bematech, the largest manufacturer and supplier of commercial automation solutions, supplying software for stock control and financial management.
CEFET- Federal Centre of Technological Education of MG – Represented by Mr. Flavio dos Santos, CEFET is a federal center of technological education that offers a broad range of courses with a vertical educational system and approximately 15,000 students, similar to the TAFE Institute. CEFET-MG supports various research groups as CPEI, Research Centre in Intelligent Energy Usage, the NASCENTE, an enterprise incubator working on innovative technological products. In the NEAC - Nucleus of Engineering Applied to Competitions - students develop motor cars and airplanes projects, produce prototypes and take part in national and international competitions of SAE Formula and Baja Formula, among others.
Mr. Flavio dos Santos seeks to establish agreements with Australian teaching institutions to promote the necessary interchange of students and teaching personnel.
Madeirense: Owner of Madeirense, one of the largest office furniture and design companies in Brazil, Ms. Elza Cristina Castro took part at the trade mission with the aim to establish a partnership in Australia to exchange technology, know how in design and explore new markets.
Madeirense exports to several countries like United States, Mexico, Porto Rico, Belize, Chile, Angola, Nigeria, Mozambique, Iraq and the Arab Emirates and has a range of customers as the Vale do Rio Doce, Petrobrás, FIAT, Atlantic Railway Center and Mercedes Benz.
Fumsoft – Minas Gerais Software Association: Represented by President Mr Wellington Teixeira, FUMSOFT is a non-profit association fostering software reseacrh, development and production in Minas Gerais.
MMX Mining: Incorporated in 2005, MMX works in mining and logistics, based on integrated systems that range from iron ore mines to plants producing goods with high added value (such as pig iron, hot briquetted iron (HBI) and steel . Represented by General Manager Daniel Santos, MMX is looking into expanding its operations in the Asia-Pacific and Oceania.
SAMARCO Mining: Samarco's Alegria iron ore mine is an open pit operation in Brazil's iron quadrangle, in the State of Minas Gerais. BHP Billiton and CVRD each own 50% of Samarco. In 2005 mining capacity was 20.9 Mt/y and by 2008, with additional mobile equipment, this is expected to rise to 32.8 Mt/y. The mine has reserves of 4 billion tons and as of 2005 has an anticipated mine life of 20 years. Samarco is the second largest pellet exporter in the world.
The Minas Gerais Trade Mission was finalized at an informal Happy Hour offered by the ABCC at the Stamford Hotel, Brisbane.
