|
Background
facts
Brazil became an independent state in 1822 (after three centuries under the rule of Portugal).
Brazil is South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.
Src: / Brazil facts /
Location
Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean.
Largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
Area - comparative
Similar to US.
Climate
Mostly tropical, but temperate in south.
Natural hazards
Recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south.
Population
184,101,109
Ethnic groups
White (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%
Religions
Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%
Language
Portuguese
Capital
Brasilia
Flag
Colours:
Green with a yellow lozenge and a central blue sphere in it.
GDP - per capita
Purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2004 est.)
Currency
Real
Exchange rates
Reals per 1 US dollar – 2,16 (Aug, 2006), 2.666 (Jan. 2005), 3.0771 (2003), 2.9208 (2002), 2.3577 (2001), 1.8301 (2000), 1.8147 (1999)
National Holidays
New Year's Day (Jan. 1); Epiphany (Jan. 6); Carnival (week preceding Ash Wednesday); Good Friday; Easter; Tiradentes Day (Apr. 21); Labor Day (May 1); Corpus Christi (May 27); Independence Day (Sept. 7); Our Lady of Aparecida Day (Oct. 12); All Souls' Day (Nov. 2); Declaration of the Republic Day (Nov. 15); Christmas (Dec. 25).
Business Hours
Offices: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Banks: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Government: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Retail: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m to 1 p.m
Shopping centers: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Source data above: mostly CIA, The World Fact Book
Business Hours
Offices: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Banks: Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Government: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Retail: Weekdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m to 1 p.m
Shopping centers: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Brazilian vacation season
The Brazilian main vacation season (and the coincident school vacations) is December-February. During this period, accommodation in cities as Rio the Janeiro and coastal south cities is more difficult and expensive, and the beaches and streets are more crowded.
Back to top - Brazilian facts
BRAZILIAN ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS: KEY FACTS
The economic importance of Brazil
With its 190 million people, Brazil is the 15th largest world economy. About half of South American territory and economic production is Brazilian. Brazil is undoubtedly the South America dominant country - a politically stable country, with ancient friendly relations with all western countries.
This data is a good expression of the business opportunities that Brazil can offer.
Top Brazilian business centres: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília and Belo Horizonte
Sao Paulo is a sophisticated business centre. Most of the industrial, commercial and entrepreneurial heart of Brazil is located in Sao Paulo. But Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Belo Horizonte are also important business references.
Rio de Janeiro is important in service sectors and as headquarter of many Brazilian state companies, as well as headquarter of oil and major institutions, and big private corporations. Brasilia is important as the government and embassies seat; and Belo Horizonte as a major mining and industrial center.
These four cities are closely connected through a shuttle service. There are constant flights (every 15 minutes during rush hours) between Sao Paulo and Rio, from downtown airports.
Tourist and Business visa
The participants in artistic or amateur sport competitions, the scientists, the teachers and the researchers attending cultural, technological, or scientific conferences, seminars or meetings do not need a business visa – if there isn’t monetary prizes or payments involving Brazilian agents. If you are included in one of these categories of visitors, you are subjected to the rules of leisure travels: you will not need any visa if you are a citizen of EU, but you will need a visa for tourist travel if you are a USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand citizen.
Business travels need a business visa, which can be obtained by presenting the correspondent request of a visa (including a business letter from your company with some details about you and your visit) to a Brazilian consulate or to the Brazilian embassy.
Brazilian visas must be obtained in advance, not in the airport. You will risk failing your entry without a valid visa.
For more information, see:
Brazil Visa and Business Visa; Passport; Brazil facts
Business negotiations
facts
Do not misinterpret some ways the Brazilians use when doing business – lunches near the beach, in Rio, for example - with lack of professionalism. Do not underestimate Brazilian negotiators or misunderstand their fun spirit or slow negotiation pace. Brazilians can be hard negotiators and they have much more know-how and are more informed with modern business practices than it may seem.
Be prepared with technical details and informed with Brazilian economic environments... Brazilians are a proud people, without any servility or inferiority.
Office hours
Brazilian office hours are, usually, between 8 am - 6 pm. But decision-makers often begin their work later in the morning and stay later in the evening.
10-13 am and 3-5 pm (1-3 pm is often lunch time) are the best hours for telephone calls and business contacts with Brazilian executives.
Language
English is accepted by part of Brazilian executives, but most of the business should be conducted in Portuguese. The non-Portuguese speaking executives may need an interpreter for most of business relationships, and the correspondence, in many cases, should also be in Portuguese (as technical data should be in metric system). Spanish isn’t an alternative to Portuguese: Brazilians, in general, prefer the English as a second business language.
For more travel information, hotels, flights and entertainment in Brazil, see:
Hotels in Brazil
Luxury hotels in Brazil
Budget hotels in Brazil
Hotels in Rio de Janeiro
Hotels in Sao Paulo
Flights to Brazil
Flights to Rio de Janeiro
Flights to Sao Paulo
Nightlife, entertainment, cuisine and shopping in Brazil
Nightlife, entertainment, cuisine and shopping in Rio de Janeiro
Nightlife, entertainment, cuisine and shopping in Sao Paulo
Beaches with high cosmopolistism and animation
Beaches near Sao Paulo and Southward
Back to top - Brazilian facts
Return to Brazil Travel Guide Home
|
