DISCOVER BSEA INTRODUCTION www.brazilsoutheastasia.com
INTRODUCING THE BRAZIL-SOUTH EAST ASIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (Singapore) Limited BSEA s LAUNCH, EXECUTIVES AND SUPPORT T he Brazil-South East Asia (BSEA) Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that was officially launched this year during the special celebration of Brazil National Day (7 September 2014) in Singapore. This is the first Chamber of Commerce representing Brazil and South East Asia. The first executives in this project, Antonio Smania, Siew Inn and Kelly Forbes believed that the existence of a Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in the South East Asian market was well overdue. The executives bring into this project an in depth understanding of the Brazilian and South East Asian markets, inclusive of the various cultures and economies. Brazilian entrepreneur, Antonio C. M. Smania, the CEO of BSEA and GMT Bridge, has been operating in the Asian market for several years. He worked as a consultant in investment banks and helps Brazilian and Asian companies establish a presence in Singapore. Siew Inn is a chartered accountant and partner at PKF Singapore with vast experience in business development and expansion. Kelly Forbes is a lawyer with extensive knowledge of the legal systems within both of these economic regions. BSEA will operate with the support of the Embassy of Brazil in Singapore and the Ambassador Luís Fernando de Andrade Serra who has kindly agreed to be patron. It also has the support from established organizations, companies and specially its current pioneer sponsor, PKF Singapore and Brazil. PKF is an international network of independent accounting and business advisory firm. It has offices in more than 120 countries worldwide and is a well-regarded professional service providers in their respective local jurisdiction such as in Brazil, Singapore and other South East Asia countries. Supporting from institutions in both regions are rapidly growing. BSEA s REGIONAL HUB REPRESENTATION Brazil has an important role to play on a continent which is growing vigorously over the coming decade, strengthening its ties with its neighbors and with the rest of the world. Our aim is to consolidate Brazil as a regional hub for investments and businesses with global connectivity with the other countries in the region, creating a strong regional network that has links with the world. We focus on Brazil as the country has played for better trading relations with all countries in Latin America and at the same time having the largest consumer market amongst all its neighbors. Its geographical position and size means it has a border with 10 countries in the region, far more than any other country in Latin and South America. The odds seem in favor for business to focus on Brazil as a first point of contact in the region (please refer to Fact Sheet). BSEA has representatives in the region who have run businesses for over twenty years in São Paulo, a city known as the economic hub of Latin America. It is an international leader in industries from heavy to high technology, in banking and finance as well as in commerce and in global trade. When there are collective action in South and Latin America, such as in the case of Mercosur, we will be well-placed to participate for the benefit of all members while at the same time consolidating our position in Brazil, the region s largest market. South East Asia region too has a mix of different countries, people, language, religion and culture. ASEAN is an institutional representation to the countries within South East Asia and it will give basis and guidance to the BSEA s mission and representation of the countries in the region (please refer to Fact Sheet).
Brazil - South East Asia Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) Limited By grouping the nations of South East Asia and representing them from our main office in Singapore, the financial and trading hub of this region, BSEA hopes to create an equal partner with a matching GDP to Brazil and with similar business potential. BENEFITS FOR LARGE AND SMALL COMPANIES All said, as in any developing markets, doing business in Brazil and South East Asia requires focus, commitment, local knowledge and local presence. For small and medium companies, local presence means prohibitive risks and costs when acting alone in the region. BSEA bridges this gap by providing companies with support in all stages of their exploration into other regions. For large companies with presence in Brazil and South East Asia, BSEA is a perfect vehicle for active participation in the local business communities, a requirement for maintaining a sustainable business model resulting in increased profitability, revenue generation and brand enhancement. BSEA is also an environment for discovering new opportunities to be explored. BSEA is as much a vehicle of support for South East Asian companies to do business in Brazil as it is for Brazilian companies to invest in South East Asia. INITIATIVES AT BSEA Amongst BSEA initiatives are networking opportunities, seminar events, advisory groups and various committees to represent different industry interests. This will deliver relevant information to the Brazilian and Asian business communities that will build public awareness whilst facilitating the link of commercial and cultural nature. We offer different options of memberships and sponsorships for companies with an interest in the Brazil and South East Asia markets. Such companies are encouraged to get involved with us, supporting this great initiative and enhancing exposure and brand awareness of their own company. We have packages for large corporations and several services with benefits envisaged for all companies in the coming year. OUR MISSION The Brazil South East Asia Chamber of Commerce (BSEA) aims to foster business relations and partnerships by encouraging the growth of trade and investment opportunities between Brazil and countries in the South East Asia region. THE TWO REGIONS FACT SHEET Brazil is the fifth largest country, both in terms of territory and population and the seventh largest economy in the world. BSEA s executives believe that Brazil s rapid economic development in recent years represent a great potential for stronger commercial relations with South East Asia. Brazil s domestic market is bigger than that of Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Peru combined (Oxford Economics). According to Best Brazil, a financial-industry trade group, Brazil generates about 80% of all securities trading in Latin America. It is estimated that São Paulo has the world s third largest population of Italians, the largest of Japanese outside of Japan, the third largest of Lebanese and the largest populations of Portuguese and Spanish. The South East Asia region is composed of eleven countries of strong cultural and historical diversity (Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam). If considered as one economic entity, ASEAN would be the ninth largest economy in the world; the third largest consumer market; the fifth largest trading bloc as well as the tenth largest in attracting Foreign Direct Investment. With a territory twice as large and a population of only one third of Southeast Asia`s, Brazil`s GDP is comparable to that of all ASEAN countries combined (see table below). According to the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations of Brazil (MRE), Asia is Brazil s fastest growing export market in terms of market share.
Population (million) Nominal GDP (USD) billion Total Brazil trade (USD) billion Brazil trading partner rank Brazil foreign trading (%) Brazil 200.00 2,505,000 Total South East Asia 617.00 2,305,543 19.00 Indonesia 244.47 878,198 3.60 32 0.75 Thailand 64.38 365,564 4.70 n.a. 1.00 Malaysia 29.46 303,527 3.60 33 0.75 Singapore 5.41 276,520 4.16 35 0.80 Philippines 95.80 250,436 0.30 55 0.25 Vietnam 90.39 138,071 2.30 39 0.48 Myanmar 63.67 53,140 0.13 153 n.a. Brunei 0.40 16,628 0.003 183 n.a. Cambodia 15.25 14,241 n.a. n.a. n.a. Laos 6.38 9,217 0.003 n.a. n.a. East Timor 1.17 1.293 0.003 182 n.a. Note: all numbers are for the years 2013-2014 and for indication only. They are extracted from different sources including the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil (MRE) and Wikipedia. BRAZIL SOUTH EAST ASIA CONTACT US For further information about BSEA please contact: Singapore: antonio.smania@brazilsoutheastasia.com or kelly.forbes@brazilsoutheastasia.com. Brazil: luiz.nogueira@brazilsoutheastasia.com or eduardo.madaloso@brazilsoutheastasia.com. www.brazilsoutheastasia.com Brazil-South East Asia Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) Limited - registered in Singapore UEN no. 201426986K. Address in Singapore: 6 Shenton Way, OUE Downtown 1,unit #32-01 Singapore 068809. Address in São Paulo: Rua Padre Estevão Pernet, 160 - andar 8, Conjs. 801 e 802 Praça Silvio Romero,CEP 03315-000 São Paulo, SP Brasil. Attributions: a) The maps are from the Wikipedia articles on Brazil and South East Asia. Singapore, 29 November 2014.
PIONEER SPONSORS SPECIALLY PARTICIPATING COMPANIES and INSTITUTIONS Embassy of Brazil (Singapore) EDB Economic Development Board of Singapore Sao Paulo - Brazil GMT BRIDGE