By Maria Lopez Conde, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian government has spent only 17.6 percent of the R$130.4 billion authorized for investments in the country in the federal budget this year, according to a report from the National Treasury. This is less than during the first four months of last year, [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, is in Brazil this week, as part of a South American tour which also includes a visit to Colombia. The Vice President’s visit to Brazil is of the highest-ranking U.S. official since President Obama traveled to [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Senate has approved by a wide majority a bill that changes rules governing how the country’s ports are regulated, in a victory for the ruling government, despite last-minute attempts by opposing senators to derail the bill. The bill aims to open state-run ports to [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – An investigation has found that some of Brazil’s port terminals are still not operating twenty-four hours a day, despite the introduction of the Porto 24 horas (24-Hour Port) program nearly a month ago, aimed at improving the ports’ efficiency. According to the report by O Globo [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Sales of Brazilian-made firearms to the U.S. increased 187.5 percent while former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was in office, compared to the same eight-year period of his predecessor. The U.S. purchased nearly 7.9 million, or eighty percent, of the 9.9 million exported [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that Brazil was once again the world’s biggest exporter of meat in 2012, after coming second to Australia in 2011. However, as BBC Brasil reports, Brazil may not hold the position long, as India’s meat [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The second largest airline in Brazil, Gol, will give bonuses if its teams manage to save the company fuel by reducing flight times and delays, it has been revealed. The bonus program has been running since earlier this year in an attempt to counter [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Sales of cars, light vehicles and trucks grew 20.8 percent in March, compared to February, according to figures revealed by Anfavea, Brazil’s National Association of Vehicle Manufacturers. Although the total is down 5.5 percent on figures for last March, if the first quarter of 2013 [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – The Brazilian government has extended its policy of reduced IPI (tax on industrialized products) for vehicles for a fourth time, with a return to standard rates now scheduled for December 2013. Until then it will range between two and eight percent. The initial term for [...]
By Ben Tavener, Senior Contributing Reporter SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Talks between the five leaders of the BRICS nations of developing economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa – have been dominated by discussions over medium-term investment in the countries’ economies, particularly how the countries can work together to improve infrastructure. Brazil’s leader President [...]
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