LIDE – Grupo de Lideres Empresariais (‘Group of Business Leaders’), together with the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, presided over by Luiz Fernando Furlan and Alexandre Bettamio, respectively, conducted a Forum last month to present investment possibilities in the state of São Paulo. The event was attended by the Governor of São Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, the Mayor of the City of São Paulo, João Doria, who was honored by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce with the “Men of the Year” awards, and by investors, bankers, rating analysts and entrepreneurs.
The purpose of LIDE Brazilian Investment Forum was to promote closer bilateral relations between American and Brazilian entrepreneurs and investors. According to Luiz Fernando Furlan (photo), chairman of the Board of LIDE and former Minister of Industrial Development and Foreign Trade, owing to the vast reach of its infrastructure which can absorb activities in many different sectors, São Paulo offers tremendous business opportunities for American investors, enhancing and showcasing Brazil’s potential abroad.
The new concession model for the state of Sao Paulo’s highways has been adapted to comply with international requirements. This year, bidding took place on two segments of the Central Western Paulista Highway, and the Calçados Highway, with premiums of 130.89% and 438.17%, respectively. At a time when the economy is quite fragile, this initiative is an effort by the state government to attract foreign investment in order to maintain and expand the state’s infrastructure, thus ensuring job creation, which is a primary focus of Governor Geraldo Alckmin.
São Paulo is recognized as the largest economic and industrial pole of the Southern Hemisphere, and in 2015 it accounted for 34% of domestic income generated in the services sector. In addition, it is responsible for 32% of Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is higher than that of countries such as Chile, Belgium, South Africa and Singapore.
In 2016, this event in New York featured presentations by Governors Marconi Perillo (Goias) and Pedro Taques (Mato Grosso), bringing together 320 investors, bankers, rating analysts and American and Brazilian entrepreneurs.