South Australia’s Eyes on Brazil
On 28th October 2010, the South Australian Chapter of the Australia Brazil Chamber of Commerce joined forces with the Exporters’ Club to present the Eyes on Brazil Technology Forum.
Seventy delegates from the private sector, industry and trade organisations, education and government sectors attended the forum and heard about four technology sectors in Brazil and the opportunities for Australian firms, specifically Renewable Energy, ITC, Health Businesses, and Resource Technologies.
Delegates gained valuable insights into doing business with Brazil through the experiences of technology companies currently trading or doing business in Brazil. They also heard about the range of trade and facilitation services offered through Austrade, the Australia Brazil Chamber of Commerce and the Exporters’ Club.
The Honorary Consul of Brazil, Mr William Frogley officially opened the forum and congratulated the Australia-Brazil Chamber of Commerce and the Exporters’ Club for organising the event. Bob Shepard (General Manager of the Exporters’ Club) provided insight into Brazil’s significance as one of the four BRIC nations and outlined similarities between Brazil and Australia’s trade environment.
Richard Hancock who heads up the South Australian Chapter of the Australia Brazil Chamber of Commerce, thanked major sponsors Carnegie Mellon University and Jetset Norwood, before discussing the improved economic and political conditions that characterise Brazil and which serve to attract investment. Richard also discussed the massive infrastructure spend planed for the World Cup and Rio Olympics and the opportunities this presents for Australian companies.
The ITC sector was represented by Aliomar Galvão (Softex Recife) who outlined the size and extent of ITC in Brazil. Brazil has an ambitious target to become the world’s 4th largest market by 2020, which will necessitate partnerships with foreign companies to complement Brazil’s capabilities. Aliomar invited Australian companies to explore collaborative opportunities with Softex in areas of research, technology development and business. During his presentation, Aliomar was kindly assisted by the interpreter Christian Schmidt.
Daniel Tejera and Nigel Baker from Pacific Hydro gave an account of clean energy markets in Brazil and discussed the economic drivers that underpinned Pacific Hydro’s expansion of wind farm operations into Brazil. Daniel and Nigel outlined Pacific Hydro’s projects in North East Brazil and explained how growth prospects continue on the back of forecast energy demand and Government emphasis on more diverse clean energy supplies.
Tim Sennett (Thermo Fisher Scientific) spoke about the size and breadth of resources sector in Brazil, and Thermo Fisher’s activities in provision of analytical technologies for mineral processing plants across Brazil. In addition to some personal observations about Brazil, Tim provided some important messages for companies contemplating doing business in Brazil, including getting to know the people, developing long term commitments, and understanding futebol!
Patricia Moessinger, representing Austrade, spoke about cleantech in Brazil which has the world’s third largest cleantech investment spend, particularly across energy, water and waste sectors. Patricia spoke of the plentiful opportunities for Australian companies in fields of instrumentation, monitoring and measurement, green buildings, and biotechnology.
Jairo Kerr Azevedo, CE of Opto Global (Aust) gave an account of the Brazilian medical devices sector, which is the 8th largest medical devices market in the world. Jairo explained that the sector is projected to grow by 14.5% in the next 3 years due largely to the expanding middle class and increased access to medical treatment, coupled with substantial government support for investment in technology innovation. Capitalising on this growth, Opto Global has developed parterships with Brazil’s Opto Electronica, which Jairo explained is underpinned with key principles around product distribution and co-development projects for new technologies.
Fabio De Conto (Exporters’ Club) reinforced the unique role that the Exporters’ Club and ABCC have in developing partnerships between Australian and Brazilian companies and formally closed the Eyes on Brazil Technology Forum thanking all sponsors, supporters, guest speakers and delegates.
With all the formalities aside, delegates and guests mingled over drinks and an impressive spread of Brazilian canapés. Many thanks go to Raquel De Conto for her marvellous culinary leadership, and Luciana Garcia and Juliana Bernardi for their help during the forum.
The Forum’s success is attributed to the strong relationship forged between the ABCC (SA) and the Exporters’ Club, and the valuable sponsorship of Carnegie Mellon University and Jetset Norwood. Special mention also to several corporate supporters including the City of Onkaparinga, Woodstock Wines, University College London, Austrade, and McCaul Olive Oil. Thanks also to the Master of Ceremonies, Bruno Lima who kindly welcomed all the speakers and maintained the event at an efficient pace.
On a final note, the Forum served as the formal launch of the South Australia Eyes on Brazil program – a series of events leading up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics, that will explore trade and investment opportunities for South Australian companies and organisations. Planning is already underway for next year’s event.
Richard Hancock
Director ABCC (SA)
Seventy delegates from the private sector, industry and trade organisations, education and government sectors attended the forum and heard about four technology sectors in Brazil and the opportunities for Australian firms, specifically Renewable Energy, ITC, Health Businesses, and Resource Technologies.
Delegates gained valuable insights into doing business with Brazil through the experiences of technology companies currently trading or doing business in Brazil. They also heard about the range of trade and facilitation services offered through Austrade, the Australia Brazil Chamber of Commerce and the Exporters’ Club.
The Honorary Consul of Brazil, Mr William Frogley officially opened the forum and congratulated the Australia-Brazil Chamber of Commerce and the Exporters’ Club for organising the event. Bob Shepard (General Manager of the Exporters’ Club) provided insight into Brazil’s significance as one of the four BRIC nations and outlined similarities between Brazil and Australia’s trade environment.
Richard Hancock who heads up the South Australian Chapter of the Australia Brazil Chamber of Commerce, thanked major sponsors Carnegie Mellon University and Jetset Norwood, before discussing the improved economic and political conditions that characterise Brazil and which serve to attract investment. Richard also discussed the massive infrastructure spend planed for the World Cup and Rio Olympics and the opportunities this presents for Australian companies.
The ITC sector was represented by Aliomar Galvão (Softex Recife) who outlined the size and extent of ITC in Brazil. Brazil has an ambitious target to become the world’s 4th largest market by 2020, which will necessitate partnerships with foreign companies to complement Brazil’s capabilities. Aliomar invited Australian companies to explore collaborative opportunities with Softex in areas of research, technology development and business. During his presentation, Aliomar was kindly assisted by the interpreter Christian Schmidt.
Daniel Tejera and Nigel Baker from Pacific Hydro gave an account of clean energy markets in Brazil and discussed the economic drivers that underpinned Pacific Hydro’s expansion of wind farm operations into Brazil. Daniel and Nigel outlined Pacific Hydro’s projects in North East Brazil and explained how growth prospects continue on the back of forecast energy demand and Government emphasis on more diverse clean energy supplies.
Tim Sennett (Thermo Fisher Scientific) spoke about the size and breadth of resources sector in Brazil, and Thermo Fisher’s activities in provision of analytical technologies for mineral processing plants across Brazil. In addition to some personal observations about Brazil, Tim provided some important messages for companies contemplating doing business in Brazil, including getting to know the people, developing long term commitments, and understanding futebol!
Patricia Moessinger, representing Austrade, spoke about cleantech in Brazil which has the world’s third largest cleantech investment spend, particularly across energy, water and waste sectors. Patricia spoke of the plentiful opportunities for Australian companies in fields of instrumentation, monitoring and measurement, green buildings, and biotechnology.
Jairo Kerr Azevedo, CE of Opto Global (Aust) gave an account of the Brazilian medical devices sector, which is the 8th largest medical devices market in the world. Jairo explained that the sector is projected to grow by 14.5% in the next 3 years due largely to the expanding middle class and increased access to medical treatment, coupled with substantial government support for investment in technology innovation. Capitalising on this growth, Opto Global has developed parterships with Brazil’s Opto Electronica, which Jairo explained is underpinned with key principles around product distribution and co-development projects for new technologies.
Fabio De Conto (Exporters’ Club) reinforced the unique role that the Exporters’ Club and ABCC have in developing partnerships between Australian and Brazilian companies and formally closed the Eyes on Brazil Technology Forum thanking all sponsors, supporters, guest speakers and delegates.
With all the formalities aside, delegates and guests mingled over drinks and an impressive spread of Brazilian canapés. Many thanks go to Raquel De Conto for her marvellous culinary leadership, and Luciana Garcia and Juliana Bernardi for their help during the forum.
The Forum’s success is attributed to the strong relationship forged between the ABCC (SA) and the Exporters’ Club, and the valuable sponsorship of Carnegie Mellon University and Jetset Norwood. Special mention also to several corporate supporters including the City of Onkaparinga, Woodstock Wines, University College London, Austrade, and McCaul Olive Oil. Thanks also to the Master of Ceremonies, Bruno Lima who kindly welcomed all the speakers and maintained the event at an efficient pace.
On a final note, the Forum served as the formal launch of the South Australia Eyes on Brazil program – a series of events leading up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics, that will explore trade and investment opportunities for South Australian companies and organisations. Planning is already underway for next year’s event.
Richard Hancock
Director ABCC (SA)
Christian Schmidt, Aliomar Galvão (Softex Recife)
Nigel Baker & Daniel Tejera (Pacific Hydro)
Richard Hancock (Director SA ABCC), William Frogley (Hon. Brazilian Consul), Fabio De Conto (Exporters Club)
Bruno Lima
Patricia Moessinger (Austrade)
Jairo Kerr Azevedo (Opto Global)
Tim Sennett (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
James Jancu (Carnegie Mellon University)
Helen Blakebrough & Nieccia Miller (Jetset Norwood), Richard Hancock (ABCC)
Fabio De Conto (Exporters Club), Patricia Moessinger (Austrade), Barry Salter (CITCSA), Bob Shepard (Exporters Club), Michael Blake (ALABC), Richard Hancock (ABCC).
Richard Hancock (ABCC), Jeremy Stevenson (Aequus), Lucimar Almeida Nielsen & Tim Neilson (Brazcom Imports), and Carlos Eduardo Rodrigues.
Nigel Baker & Daniel Tejera (Pacific Hydro), Tim Sennett (Thermo Fisher Scientific).
Richard Hancock (ABCC) Susan Peterson (Carnegie Mellon University)
