Brazil & Brazilians

A Business Snapshot

Nicholas CorfeVarega Ltd

Fifteen years of experience, including:

•Importing Brazilian wines & cachaca ( rum )•Bio-energy, derived from animal/municipal waste•Representation, facilitation and advisory services for and between UK & Brazilian companies•Wide range of products: chocolate, water, timber, honey, car parts, industrial flooring, fruit juices, etc..•Brazilian wife & children!

Background

São Paulo

Belo HorizonteRio de JaneiroCuritibaPorto AlegreRecife

Scale: ------- 1000 kms

• Fully emerged industrial & agribusiness powerhouse

• Products: aircraft, cars, oil, iron ore, soya, beef, chicken..

• Sophisticated, diverse economy – now expensive• Full employment• Proud, young, self-confident people• Hard working & dynamic, especially in SP/RJ &

South• Portuguese speaking!

Brazil – A Snapshot

In the Office

Meetings – what to expect ?

• Long, late, liable to change – keep your schedule flexible

• Informal, relaxed, unstructured, interrupted..• Social occasion: may well involve lunch, dinner,

etc.• Meeting venue: café, hotel, restaurant, shopping

centre• Take time to compliment your host & all things

Brazilian• Real business is left till last

Outside the Office

More time spent outside than in..

• Holidays - frequent & disruptive• Family - comes first, good conversation topic• Shopping and eating - hugely popular• Second homes - mountains, beach, fazenda• Football - much talked about, watched on TV• Not so popular - DIY, gardening, golf

Dos & Don’ts

• Do have patience: expect delays & misunderstandings

• Do visit & communicate regularly (email doesn’t count!)

• Do use Brazilian Portuguese• Do identify decision maker at early stage of

negotiation • Don’t mention corruption, violence, World Cup

readiness• Beware Brazilians: charming, cautious & proud!

Based on my personal experience:

Help !

DO seek local advice, assistance & introductions• UKTI / British consulates / Specialist lawyers• Industry contacts / Trade fairs• Consider local agent / representative / fixer• Customs documents & local taxes main headache• Sempre tem jeito !

Brazil - any questions ?

Varega LtdBasepoint Business Centre 70-72 The Havens. Ransomes Europark

Ipswich Suffolk IP3 9SJ United Kingdom Tel : +44 (0) 1473 722 999

Email : info@varega.eu www.varega.eu