In celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023, the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CCBC) didn’t just showcase why it’s a major reference in its sector, with a solid trajectory and effective services provided to society. It went further, sparking discussions on what and how an institution of its stature should be in the future.
Issues such as transparency and compliance, social and environmental responsibility, corporate purpose, new leadership and management challenges, the impact of emerging technologies on society and business were some of the topics that dominated discussions in a rich calendar of events organized by the CCBC and were intrinsic to all its internal and external initiatives.
By bringing this debate to the table, inviting authorities, experts, and the business community from both countries, around 500 registered attendees were impacted at each of the three main events celebrating the 50 years (Brazil-Canada Economic Forum, Canada Day CCBC Online Festival, and Brazil-Canada Summit). On social media, posts from these meetings generated approximately 88 thousand views combined. Starting this year, these three events become part of CCBC’s annual calendar.
Connected, generating a business outlook over 12 months of more than US$8 million. Mining, food and beverages, health innovation, and furniture are some of the sectors covered. Conversely, the CCBC also organized and hosted Canadian missions to Brazil. In particular, I highlight as an example the Alberta delegation, comprised of executives from development agencies, universities, and sectoral representatives, who participated in relevant meetings in São Paulo and Paraná, and signed partnerships with Brazilian institutions such as Invest Paraná and Invest Curitiba.
In the sectoral field, our nine committees addressed, in face-to-face and hybrid meetings, issues that challenge corporate daily life and will impact the coming years. They tackled economic scenarios and international developments, legal changes and regulations, emerging technologies and information security, ESG, diversity, equity, and inclusion, among many other topics. Renowned experts joined authorities, members, and the external community in productive discussions in all these areas.
The growing realization that Brazil is an attractive country for Canadian companies and institutions, just as Canada is equally appealing to Brazilian organizations, becomes evident when we observe the work carried out by the hubs in both countries. The Brazil Hub, with its units in Montreal and Edmonton, has already served 9 companies, 5 of which are currently incorporated into the Canadian market. The Canada Hub, in turn, has three companies under its wing.
Regionally, in both countries, the work carried out by the Chapters gained significance in 2023, in a movement that continues to take on new contours this year. The offices in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasília (DF), and Curitiba (PR) organized more than 10 high-level meetings, including various initiatives that promoted interaction with stakeholders in the region, the dissemination of business opportunities, and debates covering economic perspectives and sectoral themes.
Similarly, in Canada, the Chambre consolidates itself as a crucial arm in advocating for the intensification of bilateral relations, with an important proactive agenda alongside governmental and private entities. In perfect alignment with the activities developed in Brazil, business meetings and networking events were organized, opening up opportunities that benefit the business environment and the market of both countries.
All these links form a solid chain, which also enables a series of joint projects, partnerships, and Memorandums of Understanding, such as those signed with organizations like Invest Alberta, Investissement Quebec, Montreal International, Edmonton Global, Edmonton Unlimited, CUE Concordia University of Edmonton, and Alberta IoT in Canada, and Invest Paraná, Invest Curitiba, Invest São Paulo, Invest Minas, Government of Mato Grosso, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas (IPT), Instituto Brasileiro do Petróleo (IBP), and Fundação Araucária in Brazil.
When committed leaders come together in pursuit of common goals, the impacts created are powerful. Therefore, I couldn’t conclude this assessment without expressing gratitude for the excellent work carried out by the members and volunteers who dedicate their time in their schedules to the activities within the sectoral committees of CCBC and in the chairs of the Advisory and Executive Councils and the board, by my side. As well as to the leadership of CAM-CCBC, represented by presidents Rodrigo Garcia da Fonseca, Silvia Rodrigues Pachikoski, and Ricardo de Carvalho Aprigliano. Together with them, and with the Chamber’s staff, we have achieved advancements in the services provided, in our way of operating, and in our governance.
Regarding the latter, I would like to highlight the revision we conducted of the CCBC Statute in 2023 and the internal regulations of both the Chamber and CAM-CCBC, which reflect our efforts towards updating the organization’s structure.
Meanwhile, at CAM-CCBC, initiatives aimed at advancing the use of appropriate dispute resolution methods not only in the Brazilian but also in the international environment continued at an accelerated pace, consistent with its position as a leader and reference in the sector. Among the many initiatives, I particularly highlight the holding of the tenth edition of the CAM-CCBC Arbitration Congress, which averaged over 400 participants per day, in addition to tens of thousands impacted through virtual means.
It’s also worth mentioning the work in the field of training future professionals in the sector, one of CAM-CCBC’s trademarks, through organizing arbitration competitions for young university students and sponsoring Brazilian teams to participate in the Vis Moot Vienna, one of the most prestigious international disputes in the sector. Adding to these actions, now in 2024, is the upcoming Latin American Arbitration Conference (CLA), which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in June.
The foundations are solid, and there is a long road ahead to be traveled. We continue with the certainty that CCBC is ready for the challenges of the future.
A strong hug,
Ronaldo Ramos
Chief Executive Officer and President of the Executive Council of CCBC
