On September 6, entrepreneurs and innovators gathered in Guangzhou's Huadu District for the opening ceremony of the Bracham Desk, hosted by the Bracham Association of Brazilian Businesses. The ceremony aimed to foster economic and cultural exchanges among country representatives and business associations.

Bracham Desk launched

In his speech, Frederico Meyer, the Brazilian Consul General in Guangzhou, expresses gratitude for the opportunity to witness what the business community has accomplished today.

（Brazilian Consul General Frederico Meyer and Bracham Regional Director Aldo Munchen lead the ribbon-cutting ceremony.）

Representatives from several chambers of commerce, including those from Australia, Colombia, Iraq, Portugal, Spain, and Guangzhou, as well as the Angola Business Association, attended the event.

Aldo Munchen, Regional Director of Bracham, introduced the association as a channel between the governments and the business communities in China and Brazil. Its goals are to generate interactions to promote business and networking; to provide access to tools and information to assist Bracham members with cost-cutting; and to invite experts to promote knowledge exchange, particularly about the two economic powerhouse countries. Bracham, which was founded in March 2006, is a pool of companies and consulting firms primarily from banking and finance, trading and logistics, manufacturing, purchasing, automobiles, and food and beverages.

Economi crelations reach new heights

Munchen stated that the Brazilian-Chinese partnership is changing at the moment. “[In the past,] we brought a lot of engineers to help the Chinese in the intensive labor industry [such as clothing and shoes] develop... We brought technicians from Brazil to the city of Dongguan,” he described.

Beyond the traditional trade of meat and soybeans, “we see more people coming from the new industries,” he added. He observed that there are new technological trends and the fourth industrial revolution in which Brazilians can work together with their Chinese counterparts in e-commerce, internet banking, and new energy.

（In an all-inclusive interview, Bracham Regional Director Aldo Munchen speaks with Outlook New Era on the new development of Brazil-China economic ties.）

Bracham is also involved in green energy, focusing on automobiles and alternative energy solutions. With little development in the e-car industry in Brazil, there is a significant gap to fill in terms of collaboration. Their organization has been in contact with Chinese firms that are interested in bringing their new technologies to South America.

For decades, Brazil has been preparing itself to obtain sound agribusiness technology, and China’s Huawei is assisting farmers in improving their crops. BYD, a Chinese manufacturing company, is likewise building photovoltaic solar panels in Brazil.

"We believe that China-Brazil’s future is very bright... In actual business, there is a lot of cooperation going on,” Munchen said.

He added that he was encouraged by the Chinese suppliers and clients while doing business in China. He believes that there is a need to build relationships outside of business. With this, doing business can then proceed based on good relationships and mutual trust.

“We move beyond just daily interaction of business, but also exchange cultures... We built what in Chinese is called guanxi(关系)... [W]hen we establish that good relationship, business always flourished.”

Munchen spoke about the Gauchos (高乔人), people who live in parts of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. He pointed out that starting a project entails having an end goal in mind. In a metaphor, he compared China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to a train, with the Gauchos region serving as the last stop. Thus, they must participate in and be included in the BRI. With approximately 8000 Brazilians as part of the Gauchos, the region has a large potential for resources, as well as less developed areas that can be used to begin cooperation.

“欢迎你们到南美巴西那边来，that's the end of the project!”

（Guangzhou-based business groups promote Brazilian snacks, beverages, and martial arts.）

During the event, an introduction to Jiu-Jitsu, as well as the refreshments served, gave the guests a flavor of Brazilian culture.

（OUTLOOK NEW ERA）