Member Article

Brazilian market open for Yorkshire and Humber

Brazilian trade links are being spearheaded in two schemes ran by UKTI, in an effort to take advantage of relationships created by this summer’s Olympic Games.

SMEs in Yorkshire and Humber will benefit from the first project, which will be launched in September, for businesses to increase global exports to Brazil.

As the Olympic flag is passed between the two countries, trade links and future business partnerships have been forged after Brazilian delegates made visits to the UK to learn from the preparations for the Games.

Following its September launch in Sheffield, the Passport to Global Sports Project will run for 12 months and will offer expert advice to exporters as well as setting targets in the competitive global sports projects market.

A trade mission to Brazil in November set up by UKTI will coincide with the Soccorex international football exhibition in the capital, Rio de Janeiro, where businesses will be able to exhibit to potential South American buyers.

The mission will progress to Brazil’s industrial core, Sao Paulo, where opportunities for engineering and healthcare links could be made, and a further visit to the city of Recife will allow firms to see a major centre for businesses in the country.

Businesses in Yorkshire and Humber have already benefitted from Brazil’s inheritance of the Olympics, with exports from the region to Brazil totalling nearly £373 million.

Lorraine Ellison, who is leading the Mission on behalf of UKTI Yorkshire and the Humber, said:

“Brazil is simply too big a market to ignore. Of the four countries in the BRIC economy, it is the closest to the UK economically and politically and has recently overtaken the UK in size of GDP. Brazil currently has fantastic opportunities to showcase its new found economic strength and confidence.

“British architects have already triumphed by winning the contract for the design of the Olympic Stadium in Rio and UKTI are helping businesses pursue a range of major infrastructure projects that Brazil is putting out to tender - from airport development to urban regeneration and environmental programmes.”

UKTI Yorkshire and Humber’s visit to Brazil will coincide with similar missions from UKTI in the North West and North East of England.

Mark Robson, the Regional Director for UKTI Yorkshire and Humber said the Olympics presented a “golden opportunity” for businesses in the region.

He said: “ The Trade Mission is an invaluable opportunity for businesses to make contacts and gain real insight into the competitive Brazilian market.

“Attending a UKTI Trade Mission means accessing support from an experienced group leader who has business experience in the market, and a proven success record of managing these visits, as well as in market briefing, receptions, and assistance before and after the visits.”

Specific opportunities have been highlighted by UKTI, including the tender for an 18,000 seat aquatics centre and a Handball Arena for Brazil’s Olympic park. Bids for such projects will open next month in Rio de Janeiro.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .