The Chamber of Commerce concluded its trade mission to São Paulo, which aimed to bolster bilateral economic relations and create new business opportunities. The country seminar that was organized in fall 2024 provided an excellent prelude to this successful trade mission.
The programme was filled with a diverse set of activities, including a business forum, a pitch and B2B session, and multiple company and tech park visits. Throughout the mission, participants had the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations with Brazilian counterparts.
Activities and key highlights
The mission kicked off with an engaging Luxembourg-Brazil Business Forum, introduced by Nadia Mellina, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Luxembourg in Brasilia, who set the tone for a day of insightful discussions. Following the opening remarks, Sabrina Aksil, Lead International Affairs of the Chamber of Commerce, provided a comprehensive presentation of Luxembourg’s economy, shedding light on key sectors that drive growth and innovation.
On the Brazilian side Gustavo Sperandio Fernandes, Regional representative of Apex Brasil, highlighted promising business opportunities in the country, before giving the floor to André Bezerril, Honorary Consul of Brazil to Luxembourg, who gave practical advice for successfully navigating the local market.
The forum continued with a fireside chat moderated by Jenny Hedberg, Head of International Relations at Luxinnovation, to explore innovation ecosystems of both countries.
The morning session concluded with company pitches, giving participants the chance to present their innovative solutions and set the stage for a productive B2B session after the networking lunch.
Business opportunities in Brazil became even more concrete through a series of company visits, offering significant insights into the country’s vibrant economic landscape. The visits spanned a diverse set of companies and institutions, ranging from Natura, Brazil’s largest cosmetic producer and a pioneer in sustainability, to Embraer, among the biggest aerospace companies in the world, and Hospital Sirio Libanes. Innovation ecosystems were explored as well, such as those of Cubo Itau, CIETEC, La Fabrique and the Parque de Inovação Tecnológica São José dos Campos, one of Brazil’s largest innovation parks with a cutting-edge aerospace ecosystem.
Strong partner network & new collaborations
This intense programme would not have been possible without a strong partner network and new collaborations with organisations both in Brazil and Luxembourg. The Chamber of Commerce collaborated with the Luxembourg Embassy in Brasilia, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Luxinnovation, the Honorary Consulate of Luxembourg in São Paulo, the Honorary Consulate of Brazil in Luxembourg, the Brazil Embassy in Brussels and APEX Brasil.
