The Importance of the Portuguese

Language in Today’s Language in Today’s World

The Portuguese language is a Romanic language originated of area of today’s Galiza and the North of Portugal, from the vulgar Latin introduced in the vulgar Latin introduced in the West of the Iberia Peninsula circa two thousand years ago.

The Portuguese Language has spread in the World during the 15th and 16th Centuries when Portugal became a colonial and commercial empire , including Brazil, Goa, Macau and East Timor in Asia.

The Portuguese language has been exclusively used as lingua franca in the island of Sri Lanka for almost as lingua franca in the island of Sri Lanka for almost 350 years.

During this time many creole languages based on the Portuguese also appeared in the World, mainly in Africa, Asia and Caribbean.

With approximately 240 million of native speakers, the PortugueseLanguage is the fifth most spokenlanguage in the World (ahead of German, French and Italian).

It is the official language of Angola, Brazil, Cape Vert, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal, EastTimor, Saint Tome and Prince andsince 2007 in Equatorial Guinea.

Portuguese has also been spoken in the oldterritories of the Portuguese India, such as Goa, Damão, Angediva Island, Simbor, Gogola, Diu and Dadrá and Nagar- Aveli.

Also in small communities that were part of the Portuguese Empire in Asia such as Malacathe Portuguese Empire in Asia such as Malacain Malasia and Zanzibar in Africa.pequenas comunidades que faziam parte do Império Português na Ásia como Malaca, na Malásia e na África Oriental como Zanzibar, na Tanzânia.

The Portuguese Language has the official recognition in the European Union, Mercosul , African Union , in the Organization of American States , Latin Union, Community of Portuguese Language Countries, Association of Olympic Countries, Association of Olympic Committees of Portuguese as Official Language.

Portuguese in Brazil and the Brazilian

Culture in BusinessCulture in Business

São Paulo

• The largest city in Brazil for business. Center of industry and commerce.

• Population: 11.2 million (2010)• Population: 11.2 million (2010)

• All major corporations have an office in São Paulo.

• Financial Center

Rio de Janeiro

• Most well known destination to foreigners

• Population: 6,32 million (2010)

• Attracts investors in tourism and hospitality (city of Rio de Janeiro)(city of Rio de Janeiro)

• Industrial park of relevance in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

• The largest steel plant is situated in the state.

Rio de Janeiro

• Rio de Janeiro became an attractive place for companies to locate when it was the capital of Brazil, as important sectors of society and of the government were present in the city.

• The city was chosen as headquarters for state-owned state-ownedcompanies such as Petrobras, Eletrobrás, Caixa Econômica Federaland Vale (which was privatized in the 1990s).

• After the transfer of the capital to Brasilia, in 1960, it kept • After the transfer of the capital to Brasilia, in 1960, it kept attracting more companies,] especially after the discovery of oil in the Campos Basin, which produces most of the total oil production of Brazil.

• This made many oil and gas companies to be based in Rio de Janeiro, such as the Brazilian branches of Shell, EBX and Esso.

• The city is also the headquarters of large telecom companies, such as Intelig, Oi and Embratel.

Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais

• Population: 2,37 million (2010)(2010)

• Sate: Minas Gerais (General Mining)

• State Capital: Belo Horizonte

Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais

• Belo Horizonte has a developed industrial sector, being traditionally a hub of the Brazilian siderurgical and metallurgical industries.

• The state of Minas Gerais has always been very rich in minerals, specifically iron ore.

• Belo Horizonte is the distribution and processing center of a rich agricultural and mining region and the nucleus of a prominent industrial complex.industrial complex.

• Production is centered on steel, steel products, automobiles, and textiles.

• Gold, manganese, and gem stones mined in the surrounding region are processed in the city.

• The main industrial district of the city was set during the 1940s in Contagem, a part of greater Belo Horizonte.

• Multinational companies like FIAT (which opened its plant in Betim in 1974), Arcelor and Toshiba have subsidiaries in the region, along with other textile, cosmetic, food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, furnishing and refractory companies.

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

• Population: 1.4 Million (2010)• Located at the junction of five rivers, it has

become an important alluvial port as well as one of the chief industrial and commercial centers in Brazil. Brazil.

• With the advent of the Mercosul accord it should grow and prosper.

• Products of the rich agricultural and pastoral hinterland, such as soybeans, leather, canned beef, and rice, are exported from Porto Alegre to destinations as far away as Africa and Japan.

Curitiba, Paraná

• Population: 1.75 million (2009)• Since it was declared the capital of the State of Paraná in 1853,

the city has gone through several major urban planning projects to avoid uncontrolled growth and thus has become an international role model in dealing with such sensitive issues as transportation and the environment.as transportation and the environment.

• The city is the second largest car manufacturer in the country, and its economy is based on industry, commerce and services.

• For that reason, Curitiba is considered by many specialists of the financial sector to be the best location for investors in Brazil.

• At the moment, the city receives more than two million tourists every year. Most arrive via Afonso Pena International Airport, where almost sixty thousand airplanes land annually.

Brasília, Federal District

• Population: 2.56 million (2010)• Besides being the political center, Brasília is an important

economic center. • The city is the 3rd richest of Brazil, showing a gross

domestic product (GDP) from 99.5 billion reais, representing 3.76% of the total Brazilian GDP. 3.76% of the total Brazilian GDP.

• The main economic activity of the federal capital results from its administrative function. Its industrial planning is studied carefully by the Government of the Federal District.

• Being a town registered by UNESCO, the government in Brasilia has opted to encourage the development of non-polluting industries such as software, film, video, and gemology among others, with emphasis on environmental preservation and maintaining ecological balance, preserving the city property.

Salvador, Bahia

• Population: 2.68 million (2009)• Throughout Brazilian history Salvador has played an

important role. In 1549 it became the first capital of Brazil. • Salvador is the second most popular tourist destination

in Brazil. Tourism and cultural activity are important generators of jobs and income, boosting the arts and the preservation of artistic and cultural heritage. preservation of artistic and cultural heritage.

• Salvador's tourism infrastructure is considered one of the most modern in Brazil, especially in terms of lodging. The city offers accommodation to suit all tastes and standards, from youth hostels to international hotels.

• Construction is one of the most important activities in the city, and many international (mainly from Spain, Portugal and England) and national developers are investing in the city and in the Bahian littoral zone.

Recife, Pernambuco

• Population: 1.54 million (2010)

• Recife is one of Brazil's prime business centers, largely because it has one International Airport and two International ports. One is located in the town itself, and the other, the port of Suape, is located about 40 kilometres (25 mi) away.

• Just south of Recife is the region's main industrial area, where the following industries can be found: brewing and canning, automotive following industries can be found: brewing and canning, automotive electronics, tube manufacturing, chocolate manufacturing, and textiles

• Recife has shared in the prosperity of Northeastern Brazil that resulted from development promoted after 1960 by Sudene (Superintendênciapara o Desenvolvimento do Nordeste), a federal organization.

• Although its retail and wholesale trade have grown in response to the region's increases in population and wealth, the market area and the walkways of the city's bridges are crowded with vendors selling small items.

Other important centers in Brazil

• Florianópolis – Tourism industry and sea sports (international surf championships)

• Vitória – Exporting port for iron ore coming from Minas Gerais

Other northeast capitals: tourism reaching • Other northeast capitals: tourism reaching European investors to set hotels

• Cuiaba – Center for grain production

• Manaus – Capital of the Amazon Forest and important tourism destination for preservation.

Carlos RoblesScholar in ResidenceDaytona State College

Photos: from publicofficial sites

Source: Embratur

February, 2012