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Brazil Up Front
Edition by Jennifer Parker
Brazil’s 11,000 km of coastline with its array of dazzling
beaches, year-round sunshine, excellent options for the
ecotourism and radical sports, impressive cultural diversity,
contagious music, and first level tourist infrastructure, attract
over 5 million tourists to this blessed country every year.
Brazil is among the top generators of electric energy in the
world, and has enormous hydroelectric potential thanks to the
huge river basins covering vast swathes of the territory in
major regions. The country is the only major industrial
nation to possess an energy supply that about 87% is
renewable. It may become a model if it can chart a map for
the transition to hydrogen on the lines of what is being developed
in Europe. It may well be the first major economy to
make this transition.
Computer technology is increasingly an integral part of
Brazilian’s daily lives. The country ranks 7th among those
with the largest number of internet users in the world just
behind USA, Japan, Germany, UK, China, Canada and South
Korea. The 25 million internet users respond with 40%
of all internet users in Latino America.
Brazil has the world’s tenth largest industrial park and over the
past 25 years it has diversified and expanded output of manufacturers
and consumes durables. It has attracted leadingedge
technology companies, particularly in sectors like
telecommunications, electronics, biotechnology, space and
data processing among others.
Brazil’s mobile phone market ranks second in the world
with over 700,000 new phones coming into operation every month.
The country is “FIRST” as producer of coffee,
orange and sugar-cane.
“SECOND” in market for executive jets and helicopter as well
as producer of cassava, soy beans and soybeans.
THIRD in market for franchising, soft drinks and motorcycles.
The FORTH for grain and cocoa, television networking and
beer maker.
Brazil is among the top 30 traders in the world, selling a wide
range of products to a variety of markets across the globe.
Actually, the country is one of the most dynamic emerging
markets in the world and the most important in Latin America.
Brazil is a cheerful, dynamic and creative country, resulting
from the blend of several peoples and cultures. This kaleidoscope
of influences gave rise to a genuine cultural identity,
which has turned into a reference in several fields, particularly
the fashion industry. This industry has found solutions to
ensure that local creativity matches international quality standards.
The sector is the 2nd biggest employer in the
Brazilian labor market and have generated over
US$300 millions in earnings.
No other art form, perhaps, is so deeply rooted at the core of
Brazil’s national identity as music. Brazilian music is a fusion of
Iberian, African and Amerindian influences endowed with a
“facial Fatality”, in the informed opinion of writer and
musicologist Mario de Andrade.
Despite regional imbalances and the great concentration of
wealth still visible in Brazil, the country has built up a sizeable
consumer market. Macroeconomic stability, low inflation and
the contribution of the substantial informal sector of the economy
have ensured fair levels of sustainability in the economy.
Yes, Pride for Being Brazilian!
Many Brazilians say bad things about Brazil, ignoring the
positive aspects that should be considered. We have already
reached the second semester of 2006 and despite being an
electoral year full of many promises, constant impostures in the
press about vandalism, urban violence, and also disappointments
over our greatest lover – the national Brazilian soccer team; it
pays to remember that Brazil does not have natural disasters
like earthquakes and hurricanes, neither is Brazil known for a
high number of stressed and neurotic people, among other things.
It is good to reinforce the concrete and positive happenings
that could make any citizen proud in the world.
Brazil is the only country in the world where it is
possible to fuel a car with alcohol and gasoline
simultaneously, and in 2007, natural gas (GNV).
Also, it is the first country in the world to develop the
duo diesel made with “mamona” – made only with
national technology.
The company Petrobrás is the only company in the
world to have complete production technology of
petroleum in deep water.
There are 14 factories of vehicles installed and four more
coming soon – including three with one of the most modern
production lines of the world: Mercedes Benz, GM and
Volkswagen trucks.
Our steel industry is in its maximum performance.
The small airplanes made by Embraer, for executives
and for military issues have high technology and are
commercialized for many countries worldwide.
The country has the second biggest market of jets and
executive helicopters.
The system of Electoral Regional Court (TRE) is computerized
in all regions of Brazil, and it assures the results of reliable elections
within less than 24 hours.
The market of mobile phones of Brazil is the
second largest in the world, 650 thousand
new accounts per month, and just
behind USA.
Even being a country still developing, Brazilians
Internet users represent 40% of the market
in Latin America.
According to research in 50 cities in several countries, the one
considered “more empathetic” is Rio de Janeiro.
We are a country that has been successful in
combating AIDS and other sexually transmissible diseases.
It is the only country in southern hemisphere that is
participating of Genome Project.
The majority of our children and teenagers between seven and
fourteen years old go to school and having basic education.
The publishing book market is bigger than in Italy, with more
than 50 thousands of new titles per year.
We have the most modern bank system on the planet.
Our advertising agencies receive the
best and biggest international prizes.
Our people are one of the most hospitable
and charismatic in the world, and foreign
folks that have lived in Brazil, never forgotten
the life experience and forever will be in
love with the country.
Why not be proud of being folks who make jokes of their own
disasters and face the displeasure “sambando.” We are a blessed
people, who have the joined magic from all races from all
faiths. We are blessed people, who can understand all
accents…people who offer all kinds of atmospheres to make
everybody happy…blessed is this nation called Brazil!
First Attraction
Brazil natural beauty, carnaval, samba, soccer and beautiful
woman have made this country internationally famous,
attracting hundred of thousands of tourists from around the
globe and all year long. But something very simple has
attracted the tourist that already knows Brazil: The Brazilian
Way of Life! For many of them it is more enchanting than
any of the scenario. According to surveys, when foreign
tourists are questioned about Brazil, they indicate
happiness as the main characteristic of our people.
Happiness that can be perceived in every moment they stay
in the country – whether in our music, the warmth of our
northeastern beaches, the lively Rio de Janeiro nightlife or
the exuberant Amazon. From this warm and festive spirit,
popular displays such as Carnival, New Year’s Eve celebrations
and June Parties arise, all famous for their liveliness and joy.
It seems that the people’s desire to show what is good
about Brazil transforms this vigor into creativity, flashed
about in contagious colors and sounds. The results show
that 52% of this public goes back home valorizing
yet another aspect of this land: its people.
Petroleum
The nation is home to the second largest oil reserves in South
America, just behind Venezuela, and has an overabundant oil
supply. Brazil has set a goal of becoming self-sufficient in oil
by 2006 or 2007.Until the country achieves the goal of becoming
self-sufficient, will continue to import enough oil to be affected
by international oil prices. Once self-sufficiency is reached,
Brazil will begin to transition into becoming a net exporter
that should lead to an alleviation of the pressures of international
oil prices.
Brazilian “Real”
The Brazilian real, also denoted by BRL, is the official currency
of Brazil. In 1654the “real” became the first currency officially
used by the Dutch during the occupation of the territory that
is now Brazil. In 1690 the real became Brazil’s official currency,
and in 1942 was replaced by the Cruzeiro. It was implemented
on July 1, 1994 through Minister of Finances
Fernando Cardoso. He was soon elected President as the success
of the new currency took off. The real replaced the previous
“Cruzeiro,” which had been the monetary unit since
1942. It was introduced with distinct objectives to tackle
high inflation and to stabilize the exchange rate. In January
1999, Brazil decided to abandon the peg to the United
States Dollar (USD) and devalue the real, which triggered a
financial crisis. Last September 2006 the Brazilian Real was
quoted from US$2,16 to US$2,36 between commercial to
black market quotation.
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