Ronaldo Ramos, CEO of CCBC, visited Edmonton (capital of the province of Alberta) to establish memorandums of understanding, participate in important meetings and announce the accession of three Canadian companies to the Brasil Hub
By Marcel Salim
The Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CCBC) is expanding its presence and partnerships in western Canada, specifically in the province of Alberta. The institution signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and announced that three new companies have joined the Brasil Hub in Edmonton.
The first MoU was signed with Edmonton Unlimited, the city of Edmonton’s innovation agency, to collaboratively elevate the innovation and internationalization landscape for companies in both Canada and Brazil.
Both organizations have committed to a strategic alliance to drive expansion and business towards new horizons. The partnership is the result of a shared vision of promoting growth, stimulating innovation and expanding opportunities for companies.
“This partnership further represents our commitment to fostering business in Canada, facilitating the arrival of Brazilian startups in Edmonton through the CCBC Brasil Hub and accelerating their growth in the market with the valuable assistance of Edmonton Unlimited. We look forward to seeing the success stories and innovative projects that will emerge from our collaboration in the coming months,” explains Ronaldo Ramos, CCBC’s CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board.
As part of the agreement, Edmonton Unlimited will extend its programs, activities and space to Brazilian startups hosted at Brasil Hub. Joint initiatives will also be launched to help small and medium-sized companies navigate new markets and internationalize their operations.
Welcome Alberta IoT
In an effort to strengthen ties between Alberta and Brazil’s technology sectors, the Alberta IoT Association (Alberta IoT) and CCBC have also announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to promote better communication, knowledge exchange and business opportunities in the rapidly evolving IoT technology space, providing a bridge for innovation and collaboration between the two nations.
As part of the signed MoU, Alberta IoT members will now have exclusive access to the Canada Hub located in São Paulo, Brazil, and the Brasil Hub in Edmonton, Alberta, participating in the Alberta IoT Startup Visa Program. This initiative aims to facilitate cross-border innovation, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs and technology enthusiasts on both sides.
“This cooperative effort reflects a pragmatic approach to international cooperation, presenting valuable opportunities for companies and startups from both countries to navigate the rapidly growing IoT technology landscape. There are many opportunities for Brazilian companies to enter Canada and this relationship is expected to grow significantly in the coming years,” says Patrícia Garcia da Rosa, CCBC’s director for western region of Canada.
New members in the Brasil Hub
As a leading agricultural technology company specializing in agricultural intelligence and geotechnology, IDGeo has been approved for the Alberta IoT Startup Visa program. The company’s two owners, accompanied by their families, are already planning to move to Edmonton in 2024.
MobyWeb, meanwhile, is a technology consultancy focused on applied logistics. With an estimated revenue of R$50 million this year, the startup has developed an innovative solution to streamline logistics through real-time cargo tracking.
On the other hand, Reichman Chemistry has launched an innovative ecological product that reduces CO emissions by 70% and minimizes the consumption of engine spare parts. The product has already been approved in Brazil and the company plans to adapt it for the North American markets.
Relevant Meetings
During his visit to Edmonton, the president of CCBC met with Benigno Rojas-Moreno, the Alberta Government’s commercial director for the Americas. The aim of the meeting was to discuss strategic cooperation between the Canadian province and Brazil. Ramos also took part in a meeting with Peter Cahill, Evan Buie and Martha Rogalski, Trade Commissioners from Canada’s Regional Office of Global Affairs (based in Edmonton).
Cristian Gonzales Paez, Vice President of Foreign Relations at the University of Alberta, also hosted the CCBC president. On this occasion, Brazilian researchers briefly presented their research and the work they develop at the educational institution. Ramos also participated in a roundtable at the Industry-Academy of the University of Alberta, had a meeting with the dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and visited the Alberta School of Business to develop new partnership opportunities
Partnerships at full speed
In September 2022, CCBC had already signed an MoU with Invest Alberta, the government agency responsible for attracting investments and projects to the region. Since then, the Canadian province has reaped many rewards.
In 2023, Invest Alberta announced a partnership with Invest Paraná to benefit the public and private sectors, offering business opportunities, technological cooperation and access to internationalization programs.
Another strategic partnership, crucial to CCBC’s expansion in Western Canada, is with Edmonton Global, a non-profit company founded by 14 municipalities that make up the Edmonton metropolitan region. The aim is to attract foreign investment, help regional companies export to the world and increase the region’s global competitiveness. With this partnership, Brazilian companies establishing themselves in the Brasil Hub now have the support of local experts to develop their activities.
