UTUBRO 2005 - Rio Societies

British Consulate
Strong British presence
at Brasil Offshore
The UK had one of the biggest national
delegations attending the recent,
biannual Brasil Offshore exhibition
(second only to China, now Brazil's
main trading partner). Said to be the
third largest offshore industry event in
the world, with some 44,000 visitors in
2007, the exhibition was held in Rio
state's oil and gas town Macaé from 16-
19 June this year. More than twenty
British companies came looking for
business.
To get the best out of the British participation,
the Consulate's UK Trade
and Investment team organised a
British pavilion and trade mission in
conjunction with Scottish
Development International (Scotland
being the obvious location for significant
areas of UK oil and gas expertise
because of North Sea production),
along with the Energy Industries
Council (the leading UK organisation
for representing the energy sector
supply chain), which has an office in
Rio and now counts former Consul-
General Paul Yaghmourian as one of
its employees at its London-based
headquarters.
As part of his trade promotion work,
the current Consul-General Tim Flear
took part in a briefing of the UK
group on the evening before the exhibition
opened, in which KPMG (BCS
member Steve Rimmer) and resident
British businessman Ian Wilkinson
provided in-depth analysis of business
in Brazil and investment opportunities.
Next day, Tim attended the opening
of Brasil Offshore, at which a number
of "authorities" were present -- the UK
already has a strong working relationship
with the city of Macaé, which has
seen the signing of an memorandum
of understanding with Aberdeen and
a royal visit by HRH The Duke of York
in 2007. Tim commented to the press:
“It is fantastic to see an ever-growing
number of British companies coming
to do business in Brazil." Head of the
UKTI team in Rio de Janeiro Steve
Graham spoke enthusiastically about
the potential for business in the
Brazilian oil and gas sector: "With the
discovery of oil in the pre-salt area,
Brazil is now one of the most exciting
oil and gas provinces in the world. The
UK is a world leader in innovative
technology and engineering. These
two facts together make the UK and
Brazil natural partners as we all look
for ways in which to exploit these new
fields".
The next instalment of Brasil Offshore
is to be held in June 2011, with the
organisers aiming to beat this year's
record number of 49,000 visitors and
even more foreign exhibitors.
ISAK DIAMANTE
CRECI 35659
Private Real Estate Broker
Ipanema - Leblon - Lagoa
(21) 7118-8358 / 8895-0028
isakdiamante@gmail.com
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