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BRAZIL CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWSLETTER
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BCCC CONNECT DECEMBER 2014
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Letter from the President
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Angela Rosenbach
BCCC President
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Dear BCCC Members and Friends,
2014 was an important year in Brazil's history. The country was once again the host of the World
Cup, an event that entailed direct and indirect socioeconomic impacts, and together with investments in
infrastructure, brought media attention, economic activity, social mobilization, and numerous opportunities for the government, the private sector and the society in general. In the political arena, President Dilma Rousseff was elected for her second term with a very narrow victory over former Minas Gerais state governor and federal Senator Aecio Neves.
In July Brazil hosted the Sixth Summit of the BRICS countries. Leaders of China, India, Russia and South Africa were welcomed in a fraternal and fruitful meeting that pointed to important perspectives for the future. The countries have signed agreements on the establishment of the New Development Bank and of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement. The Bank's purpose is to help meeting the infrastructure financing needs of the BRICS and those of other developing countries.
For our organization, 2014 brought important alliances and partnerships in various sectors and a diversification in our membership base. BCCC has offered promotional support to the Newport Film Festival and to the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival. In September we co-hosted with the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce a lunch seminar at Spago with guest speaker Carlos Ferreirinha, a renowned Brazilian Luxury expert who spoke to an audience of high-end retailers from Rodeo Drive and surrounding areas. We have seen our membership expand at a healthy rate, especially in the hospitality and travel industries, but also in the Information Technology and Real Estate.
Our headquarters is strategically located in California where we can conveniently meet and do business with people from all parts of the world. We hope you get actively involved with us in 2015, to meet and mingle with important people who could be a potential business partner.
Have a Prosperous and Happy New Year!
Make 2015 your BEST year ever!
Ms. Angela Rosenbach
President
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BCCC Breakfast Seminar - Trade Promotion Office Seminar with Deputy Consul Leonardo Valverde, October 29th 2014, Beverly Hills, CA
BCCC had the pleasure to host its last Networking Breakfast seminar of the year on October 29th with guest speaker Mr. Leonardo Valverde, Deputy Consul and Trade Commissioner of the Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles. The event was supported by BCCC's Patron member New York Life, represented by Alyssa Rizzo, Senior Associate, Hispanic Market.
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BCCC President Mrs Angela Rosenbach introduces Deputy Consul Leonardo Valverde and Ms. Alyssa Rizo from New York Life (righ)
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Mr. Valverde spoke to an engaged audience about Brazil's current economic scenario, presenting recent data produced by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance that included external trade growth index, income distribution, and public investments in technology, innovation and education as well as Brazil's world ranking in foreign direct investment attraction.
At the end of his presentation Deputy Consul Leonardo Valverde highlighted the activities of SECOM, the Trade Office bureau in the past two years. The bureau provides assistance to companies wishing to invest in Brazil or import Brazilian products and services. It is also in charge of gathering and providing information about local business and investment opportunities for Brazilian businesses abroad. Mr. Valverde emphasized the Institutional support to BCCC with breakfast meetings, seminars and local business events in order to promote trade by joining initiatives, membership outreach and growth and assisting in providing commercial/trade intelligence.
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Mark Leibowitz, Alyssa Rizo (NY Life) and Deputy Consul Leonardo Valverde
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Mr. Valverde let participants know about a valuable resource for U.S. importers and investors: BrazilExport.gov.br., a new website set up by the Ministry of External Relations together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply and Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade that includes trade shows, profile of Brazilian exporters, investment guides, legislation and is available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Among the attendees were BCCC Business members John Lowe, Carolina Cabral, Gisele Ambrosio, Steve Scheibe, Alex Monteiro, Anthony Chang and Natalia Aranovich. BCCC President Ms. Angela Rosenbach, along with BCCC vice-president Patrick Benedek, mingled with familiar faces such as Norman Arikawa, Assistant Director of Trade Development for the Port of Los Angeles, Bob Petit, Executive Director at UCLA Anderson School of Management, Felipe Cusnir, International Trade with the City of Los Angeles, Mayor's office and Maira Chianca, Brazilian Board of Tourism, EMBRATUR.
We deeply thank Deputy Consul Leonardo Valverde for his strong support of BCCC and the Brazilian business community in Los Angeles.
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Venture in LA - event recap - November 17-22, Santa Monica, CA
VentureInLA is an annual Tech Mission that brings Brazilian Startups to Los Angeles for a one-week experience. This year BCCC supported VentureInLA for its mission between November 17th and 22nd. The event brought twelve Brazilian Startup Companies and approached them to top-notch players in town within the Startup Community, like potential partners and investors.
The participants were able to present their products to 120 people on the 20th November at General Assembly (Santa Monica) for the "Pitch Night Session", which was opened by the Consul General of Brazil, Ambassador Bruno Bath, followed by a Twitter representative, Michalis Rossides, talking exclusively to Brazilians about "How Brazilians use Twitter".
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Lucas Judice from Midstage and the Brazilian Entrepreneurs
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Alexandre Serr�o, a participant representing Ergodontics (a medical device startup) stated: "VentureInLA was such a great opportunity to learn the American mindset of thinking businesses and, thus, it has created for me many occasions that I was approached by potential investors".
The BCCC's member MidStage Ventures organized the event, also with the support of key players in Los Angeles (for example USC (University of Southern California), GrowThink and Blackstone Launchpad, to name a few). For Lucas Judice, MidStage's CEO, "the support of BCCC was decisive to the event success. We're glad to be member of such a great Chamber, especially considering its openness in supporting its members initiative".
* Curiosity: According to Twitter's Representative, Michalis Rossides, the Brazilians use Twitter mainly to share their feelings and what they are eating, whereas the Americans use it for news and professional thoughts.
* More Information: VentureInLA is organized by MidStage Ventures (midstage.co) and the next edition will take place in Q3 2015. Stay updated at ventureinla.com
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Cohen Brown Management Group
For more than 30 years, Cohen Brown has earned acclaim for producing dramatic and profitable bottom-line results with solutions that increase and sustain key behavioral skills. Our internationally recognized training programs-which include behavioral embedding, sales leadership and management, sales, service, structured time and workflow management, motivation, effective communication, and performance coaching-have been customized and proven to be effective in a variety of industries.
Our consulting services and courseware build upon existing organizational cultures and surpass the highest sales-and-service expectations. Beginning with a behavioral diagnostic and needs analysis, our results consultants are able to create a customized targeted solution which combines training, behavioral embedding tools, and on-going consulting to reach sustained peak performance.
Cohen Brown's clients span the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Latin America, and Europe.
Learn more at CohenBrown.com
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GoLatin Travel
GoLatin Travel (a division of APF Travel) is a leading travel agency, air consolidator, and tour operator specialized in Brazil and the rest of Latin America (South America, Central America and Mexico). This is its 42nd year in business with over 30 years of Latin America experience. GoLatin is a consolidator for LATAM (LAN & TAM), Avianca, and Korean Airlines for the best airfare prices to Brazil. They also offer full services for booking hotels, tours, car transport, show tickets, entrance fees and meals all at wholesale prices given their high volume.
 | | Anthony Cheng |
GoLatin currently has two great promotions for fellow BCCC members:
Discounted DIRECT flights to Sao Paulo on Korean Airlines. Only $799 LAX-SAO one-way, $899 SAO-LAX one-way or $1,299 roundtrip (regularly $1600-2200 in economy class). Experience Korean's famous outstanding service nonstop.
Discounted BUSINESS class flights on LAN & TAM. Save up to $1,500 roundtrip! Call today to check dates and availability.
Learn more at GoLatin.com
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Florence Mattar - Estates Specialist, Coldwell Banker
When searching for your ultimate Luxury dream home, it's crucial to have a distinguished real estate expert on your side. As a Westside real estate specialist with more than 21 years of experience in the "Platinum Triangle" - Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Holmby Hills estates - I have an unparalleled understanding of the complex local real estate market. I'll be there at every step of the way, helping you to locate a property that meets your needs and compliments your lifestyle, and then closing the deal quickly to minimize complications.
 | | Florence Mattar |
Less experienced agents simply don't know what it takes to get their clients into the world's most coveted homes. As a leading Westside real estate specialist I have all the skills and knowledge you need to purchase the finest Beverly Hills palaces in the real estate market.
Lean more at BeverlyHillsPalaces,com
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The Law Office of Juliana C. Ferraz 
The Law Office of Juliana C. Ferraz represents clients in California and Brazil in matters of Bankruptcy, Immigration, and Criminal law. We are more than willing to take on challenges to lead you to positive solutions in your legal matters.
As the founder and lead attorney of the Law Office of Juliana C. Ferraz, Ms. Ferraz communicates with her clients directly to ensure that they understand their options. She provides honest, efficient legal advice and representation helping clients strategize to achieve their goals.
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Juliana C. Ferraz
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Attorney Juliana Ferraz is licensed in California and Brazil. She earned her law degree at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie in Sao Paulo, Brazil and her LL.M. degree from Florida Coastal School of Law. Ms. Ferraz is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.
Learn more at FerrazLaw.com
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Featured New Committe Member - Natalia Aranovich
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 | | Natalia Aranovich |
Natalia Aranovich has been a business attorney in Brazil for over 15 years, specialized in business, trademarks (registration, protection and litigation), negotiation and contracts.
An authority on the relationship between trademarks and consumers, Ms Aranivuch has given public presentations, written several articles, and is a published author on trademarks and consumers.
She has experience working with national and multinational companies as an advisor, negotiator and has written contracts related to intellectual property and marketing. She has served for three years as Vice President of the Intellectual Property Committee for Rio Grande do Sul Bar Association (OAB.RS).
Ms Aranovich practices with her highly respected family-run firm Eduardo Dorfmann Aranovich & Cia. Attorneys in Southern Brazil. When she first joined BCCC in early 2013 she became actively involved in expanding the membership base by prospecting and researching potential members in different economic sectors. She is also leading the project that outlines a new business plan for BCCC for the next five years.
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How Brazil Plans to Teach a Million People English Before the Rio Olympics
Wired.com by Issie Lapowsky
Enio Ohmaye was 14 years old when his family went broke.
Throughout Ohmaye's childhood, his father had run a thriving imports business, selling fine crystals and luxury watches to wealthy government employees in Brazil's capital city, Brasilia. Ohmaye says he felt like "a spoiled little prince" during the good years. But in 1964, the Brazilian government was overthrown by a military coup, and four years later, Congress was shut down. The once prosperous government workers who had frequented the store were now jobless, and Ohmaye's father went bankrupt.
Read the entire article here
Brazil Economists Increase Estimate for 2015 Benchmark Rate
Bloomberg by Mario Sergio Lima
Brazil economists raised their year-end 2015 interest-rate forecast, as the central bank continues to boost borrowing costs in the world's biggest emerging market after China.
Analysts raised their forecast for the 2015 Selic to 12.50 percent from 12 percent last week, according to the Dec. 5 central bank survey of about 100 analysts published today. The economists also cut their growth estimates for this year and next.
Re-elected President Dilma Rousseff's new economic team, which may be sworn in this week, has pledged to pursue more strict fiscal discipline to trim a budget deficit that has more than doubled during her term. The central bank increased the key Selic rate last week by 50 basis points to tame above-target consumer prices.
Read the entire article here
Brazil Is the Country to Watch for Mobile Payments
American Banker by Bethan Cowper
For the last decade, year-on-year the payments industry has predicted the shift of mobile payments to the mainstream.
The fact that the uptake of mobile financial services is finally experiencing a global surge is no longer under debate, however some regions are more equipped to rollout widespread engagement initiatives than others.
Read the entire article here
Brazil, China Launch Joint Satellite to Monitor Deforestation
TeleSUR/kb-OA
The CBERS-4 satellite is equipped with four cameras that will monitor the Earth's surface, particularly deforestation, water and land use in the Amazon.
Brazil and China successfully launched a joint satellite on Sunday, the fifth environmental monitoring equipment of its kind to be launched jointly by the two countries since 1999.
A Long March B rocket carried the CBERS-4 satellite into orbit from the Taiyuan satellite launch center in China's northern province of Shanxi. It was launched at 11:26 a.m. local time, and reached orbit 12 minutes later.
Read the entire article here
Meat Prices Pressure Inflation Index Increase in Brazil
Rio Times Online By Lise Alves
The Consumer Price Index (IPCA) in Brazil rose by 0.51 percent in November according to the IBGE (Brazilian Statistics Bureau). The rate is higher than that registered in October (0.42 percent) but lower than in November of 2013 (0.54 percent).
Meat prices increased for the third consecutive time in November, by 3.46 percent, and was the main factor to contribute to the increase in the index, according to Eulina Nunes dos Santos, coordinator of the index at the IBGE, "During the entire year the meat segment has exerted pressure over living costs and today we have a total (annual) increase of more than seventeen percent." The overall food group registered an inflation of 0.77 percent in November.
Read the entire article here
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