Brazilian businesspeople from different sectors and segments had the opportunity to learn about the Canadian market, as well as the advantages of exporting to North America
By Marcel Salim
The Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CCBC) promoted several missions to Canada during the first half of 2024 to connect Brazilian executives with the Canadian business environment. These initiatives were crucial in bringing together the business communities of both countries and encouraging the internationalization of companies.
Between January and June, there were a total of 4 trade missions. They were: SIAL – which brought representatives of Brazilian companies to the largest food and beverage fair in North America; the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), the world’s leading mining convention that usually attracts around 30,000 participants; Upper Bound – which annually gathers students, academics, and business professionals to discuss the future of artificial intelligence; and the Canadian conference C2, considered one of the largest global innovation events.
In the case of SIAL, which took place in May this year in Montreal, the CCBC brought 27 representatives from 18 Brazilian companies from various states of Brazil to Canada. Products such as açaí, chocolate, coffee, frozen pulps, sugar, nuts, honey, and propolis, among others, were some of the Brazilian exporters’ bets to captivate the Canadian palate.
The CCBC’s initiative was not limited to presence at the fair. Hundreds of meetings were also held in pre-scheduled business rounds with buyers, in addition to technical visits and networking events. It is estimated that US$ 1.006 million in business was conducted during the event. For the next 12 months, the expectation is that the agreements reached will result in up to US$ 5.5 million in gains.
Mining full steam ahead
This year, the CCBC delegation at PDAC, held in March, included 17 people, among representatives of mineral projects and service providers related to the sector, who had the opportunity to make contacts with important players in the global mining industry. More than 35 meetings were scheduled within the fair and also in external locations.
In Brazil, the post-PDAC event held at the CCBC Chapter Brasília discussed the launch of the Strategic Minerals Investment Fund (FIP) by the BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
Flávio Mota, head of the Department of Basic and Extractive Industries at the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), detailed the characteristics of the new fund, which is in the process of selecting a manager. The Brazilian government’s estimate is to mobilize up to R$ 1 billion in investments, with R$ 250 million in contributions from the bank itself. The remaining 75% is expected to be contributed by national investors.
C2 and Upper Bound
Two major events involving technology were also part of the CCBC’s trade missions in the first half of the year. Representatives from large corporations, such as Klabin and MasterLab, the currency exchange correspondent of Ouribank, an institution with over four decades of experience in the foreign exchange market, participated in C2, a conference held in May in Montreal that brought together some of the brightest minds in the world to share their passions for creativity, innovation, and leadership.
The second event was Upper Bound, entirely focused on the world of artificial intelligence. Participants had the opportunity to visit various institutions, such as the University of Alberta, the Amii startup accelerator, and Nanofab, one of Canada’s leading micro and nanofabrication facilities.
X-ray
On average, CCBC conducts eight trade missions from Brazil to Canada each year, covering different themes: artificial intelligence, food and beverages, mining, Industry 4.0, smart cities, health innovation and the medical-hospital system, clean technologies, energy transition, and even creative economy.
For the second half of 2024, the expectation is for an even more intense schedule of meetings. “These are unique opportunities where Brazilian entrepreneurs receive all the support and assistance to internationalize their businesses, in addition to being able to use Canada as a gateway for their products to North America, Europe, and even Asia,” highlights Daniella Leite, Director of Associates and New Business at CCBC.
In 2023, five missions were carried out with the participation of 44 companies. During the period, more than US$ 600 thousand (+R$ 2.2 million) in business was generated, and the outlook for the next 12 months is set at US$ 7.4 million (around R$ 27 million).
