Brazilian participation in Automechanika Middle East, the auto sector fair that took place in Dubai, last month, was considered successful by the companies and exhibitors. The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) and the Brazilian Association of Auto Parts Manufacturers (Sindipeças) took nine companies to the exhibition.

Cooling, air conditioning, ventilation and heating equipment industries from Brazil are making an extra effort to be able to export to the market in North Africa. An agreement dealing with the matter was recently renewed.

Brazil's transformation industry real revenues grew 1.1% in May as against April, discounting seasonal and calendar effects, according to the Industrial Indices study, disclosed today this Thursday, June 3, in Brazilian capital Brasília by the National Confederation of Industries (CNI).

The government of Brazil has promised farmers 78 billion Brazilian reais, approximately US$ 48 billion, in soft loans to promote agriculture production and help curb inflation announced the country's development bank, BNDES ( Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social - National Bank for Economic and Social Development).

The Brazilian president and his South American colleagues meeting at the Mercosur summit called the new European Union immigration policies that permit the detention of undocumented workers for up to 18 months "xenophobic" and said the measure may damage economic ties between the two regions.

The sliding export taxes rule, which applied to grains and oilseeds, triggered a 100-day conflict in Argentina between farmers and the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner reached the Mercosur summit in Tucuman and was rejected.

After Europe's food experts concluded that Brazil's as well as its neighbors' health regulations had been met, the European Union decided to once again allow imports of fresh meat from more areas of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

Just when the AMB (Brazilian Magistrate Association) thought that Brazil has finally decided to tackle down corruption, they had another surprise coming. Brazil STF (Supreme Federal Court) has decided not to prevent candidates listed on the "corruption dirty list" from taking part in this year's October municipal elections.

The Brazilian balance of trade (exports minus imports) recorded a surplus of US$ 2.719 billion in June, a value 28.8% lower than recorded in the same month of 2007 (US$ 3.821 billion). Last month, exports totaled US$ 18.594 billion and imports, US$ 15.875 billion.

During the next six months when Brazil holds the rotating chair of Mercosur, the South American common market, Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva intends to deal with what he considers two top priorities: the global food crisis and the regional social agenda.

Brazil's Fenearte (National Handicraft Business Fair), which will open its ninth edition this weekend in Olinda, capital of the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco, is expected to receive 220,000 visitors. In addition to the showcasing of products for sale, there should be business roundtables and live shows, among other cultural attractions.

A study prepared by Sebrae, the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service, in the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo showed that change paid off to micro and small-sized companies that underwent innovation processes in their businesses last year.

São Paulo's metropolitan region continues to be the Brazil's leading industrial hub. The companies based in the area embody the most innovative aspects of the Brazilian economy, such as enterprises in the medical-hospital equipment industry, for example, which has practically multiplied its revenues by four, from ten years until now.

Brazil produces 12 million tons of rice per year. Whereas national production currently averages at approximately 2,800 kilograms per hectare, farmers in Rio Grande do Sul manage to reap 7,000 kilograms per hectare. The state's export effort arose precisely from the productivity increase.

Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica - Brazilian Company of Aeronautics), Brazil's aircraft manufacturer, inaugurated last Thursday, June 26, a new center for personnel development. The facility, comprised of two three-story buildings and one auditorium, was named Casimiro Montenegro Filho and is located in the city of São José dos Campos, in the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo.