Brazil: no country for amateur Businessmen
SMEs and international development: not only a possibility but a necessary process to remain competitive and develop one’s business. Experience teaches that it is by no means an easy process because it requires specific knowledge and competence. Definitely it is not a hobby for amateurs.
Diego D’Ermoggine, lawyer and management consultant, has a long international experience and an in depth knowledge of Brazil, a country where he has been working since 1996. Today he is Senior Consultant with Gianesin Canepari & Partners and, in addition, Director of international relations of CEBRASSE (Brasilian Center for the service sector) and of Museu a Céu Aberto (A non profit organization that carries out cultural projects). He is also the owner of Brasil Meeting Points a company in Sao Paulo.
During the Business Opportunity Forum, he will give a framework of Brazil as a great business opportunity for Italian SMEs.
His experience proves that internationalization processes require not only deep competences but also well established relation networks in the countries to be approached. Experience shows that international markets have great opportunities but at the same time great risks. As a consequence each country is to be approached with prudence and competence making reasonable plans and involving the right resources both human and financial in order to avoid or at least minimize risks and to maximize results.
GC&P’s approach includes, besides the preparatory studies needed to approach a country, a very important phase we call “Managing the last mile” i.e. those concrete actions that must be carried out in order to enter the new market.
“Managing the last mile – underlines Mr. D’Ermoggine – means to guarantee our clients that we do not limit ourselves to provide studies, analyses, reports, but that we can assist them to really and effectively start their business in the new country including the research and selection of the best local partners.”
Compared to global competitors Italy still enjoys a great appeal that comes from the positive image of our country (history and natural beauties), from the quality and design of our products, from the craftsmanship of our workers and from the “hunger” of Italian brands in emerging economies.
Nowadays Brazil is no longer “o País do futuro” but one of the economies with a higher rate of development and a growth model that brings about a remarkable wealth redistribution.
All this makes Brazil one of the most interesting markets for foreign investments and capitals.
It is not only a land of big opportunities, but also a land of big risks. As someone said: “Brazil is no country for amateur businessmen”. Therefore it requires prudence, method and intelligent planning.
A few figures:
– total surface area: 8.514.877 Km2 (28,26 larger than Italy)
– Fifth largest country in the world both in terms of territory and population (196,5 millions).
– Democratic Federal Republic with a large autonomy given to each state (26 STATES + 1 DF) and municipality (5.526 MUNICIPALITIES).
– Many different cultures but one common language: PORTUGUESE
– Average age (2010 data): 28,8 years, expected to grow in the future due to the low birth rate
– Religion: Catholicism (Brazil is the country with the highest number of Catholics worldwide) and other christian denominations.
– Direct daily flights from Italy to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. From other European capitals daily flights via.
A stereotype to be debunked is that Brazil is the country of football, samba, carnival and beaches. One must never forget what brazil really is:
– a big fast growing country
– a consolidated democracy
– a high technology country
– a country with a modern and efficient industry
– a country with strong regulations and advanced control systems
– a country with a modern bank system
– a country with a strong beaurocracy
– a country with companies run by competent and efficient managers
– a country with a modern and competent ruling class
– A country with a widespread and high level financial culture
– a country with a certain “helpful desrespect of law” (as Nicholas Negroponte used to say) but where the law is enforced especially on foreigners.
Brazil must be seen as a strategic country for foreign investors where every step and every move must be studied and accurately planned.
Brazil welcomes and rewards true entrepreneurs but it is no place for speculators or amateur businessmen.