Originally published Feb. 22, updated March 15
Brausa Trading Company, an organization that looks to foster international trade between the USA and Brazil, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs aim to strengthen commercial ties between the two countries. In a meeting this week, at theBrazilian consulate in Boston set the agenda for a mission to São Paulo this September.
“We are trying to connect people who want to do business in Brazil,” said Bruno D’Britto, a partner of Brausa and director of the New Hampshire Brazilian Council.
New Hampshire’s largest exporting destinations in 2020 were Germany, followed by Canada and Mexico – Brazil is in the 27th position since 2023, but the mission aims to put that country among the top destinations.
Exports from New Hampshire to Brazil in 2023 were valued at $46.9 million. Among those goods are industrial machinery, machine tools, parts, printers, computers, arms and ammunition. Optical, photographic, measuring, and medical instruments are also sought in that country, according to data the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs collected from WISERTrade data services.
The alliance aims to match the state’s business owners with Brazilian companies like Embraer, the third-largest producer of civil aircraft after Boeing and Airbus. D’Britto says they could potentially be interested in software and parts from New Hampshire sellers, but he encourages investors to think of other products that the large Brazilian market wants, like electronics, clothes, and food.
“This trade mission will make it possible to sit them at the same table, talk business, and see if it is viable for both parties,” he said.
On the other hand, Brazil provides the state with wood, sawn wood, sugars, white chocolate, organic chemicals, and industrial machinery. Imports from Brazil to New Hampshire were valued at $14.4 million in 2023, according to the same local state agency.
Dawn Wivell, a member of the board of directors of Brausa and former international trade director for the state of New Hampshire, said a lot of companies are interested. So far, 50 companies have signed up. The commission is studying what Brazilian products could be a success in New Hampshire. D’Britto thinks cachaça could be one – a popular traditional drink made of fermented sugar cane juice.
“We looked at the New Hampshire Liquor Store inventory and there are less than a hundred bottles across the state,” he said. “That is the first thing we are going to bring in.”
D’Britto hopes local business owners who attend the mission will learn international commerce regulations, but also provide information to local and federal officials about fees and taxes they face when importing from or exporting to Brazil. He hopes to meet with local elected officials after the trip to talk about the experience and help identify gaps in federal legislation.
He says this is an opportunity that could expand to all New England in the future.
The last day to register for the trade mission is June 14, 2024. For more information go to Brausa Trade Company website
