Calley leads delegation to strengthen business ties between Michigan, Brazil

Friday, May 10, 2013

 

LANSING, Mich. - Lt. Gov. Brian Calley will lead a delegation of state and local officials, business leaders and economic developers on a six-day investment mission to Brazil, leaving Sunday and returning May 18.

 

"Michigan's ties with Brazilian companies have resulted in good jobs here and we look forward to further strengthening these relationships," Calley said. "We will be delivering the message that Michigan is more business-friendly than ever and the best state in the North American market to compete and grow."

 

Calley on Monday will participate in meetings at the São Paulo Stock Exchange and with Dennis Hankins, principal officer for Consulate General Sao Paulo. Calley also will provide remarks at a luncheon hosted by AMCHAM-Brasil, an American Chamber of Commerce representing U.S. businesses with operations in Brazil. He also will meet with executives of several Brazilian companies and visit The American School of São Paulo.

 

Concurrent with Calley's mission, the Van Andel Global Trade Center will lead executives from nine Michigan companies to Brazil to meet with prospective partners, distributors and buyers to increase export opportunities from Michigan to Brazil. In addition to one-on-one matchmaking appointments, the group will receive customized market research, market entry strategy and business service support. This delegation will also come together with the lieutenant governor's delegation for several key events throughout the mission. The trip is sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

 

Brazil, the largest country in South America, is home to a highly diversified and industrialized economy and offers enormous growth opportunities for Michigan businesses:

 

• In 2012, Michigan companies exported $692.6 million in goods and materials to Brazil, making it Michigan's eighth-largest export market.
• Michigan is the 18^th state in the U.S. for exports to Brazil.
• Key Michigan exports to Brazil include transportation equipment, chemicals, machinery (except electrical), and computers and electronic products.
• There are nine Brazilian-owned companies in Michigan that employ more than 880 Michiganders in 27 locations.

 

The Brazil mission is Calley's third since taking office in 2011. Earlier this month he spent two days visiting business and government leaders in Mexico, and in April he led a six-day investment mission to meet with company executives and city and provincial officials throughout the Netherlands. 

 

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