The permanent secretary of CEIB and CEO of International Relations of CEOE, Narciso Casado, highlighted the role of business organizations in strengthening investment flows and in commercial relations between Spain and Brazil, during the bilateral business meeting organized by ICEX , which took place today in Rio de Janeiro.

Authorities and representatives of numerous institutions and companies from both countries participated in the same. Casado also met with representatives of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and the National Congress of Young Entrepreneurs (CONAJE), which is, in turn, a member of the Ibero-American Federation of Young Entrepreneurs (FIJE).

In the first block on economic potential and bilateral business opportunities, the Vice Minister of Economy, Marcelo Dos Guaranys, intervened on the Brazilian side; the Secretary of State for the Research Partnerships Program, Marta Seillier; the general coordinator of Extra-Regional Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Paula Aguiar; and the director of the Department of Promotion of Services and Industries of said Ministry, Luis César Gasser.

On the Spanish side, the Secretary of State for Commerce, Xiana Méndez; the permanent secretary of CEIB and CEO of CEOE International, Narciso Casado; and the director of International of the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, Jaime Montalvo. This first panel was moderated by the general director of Internationalization of the Company of ICEX, Javier Serra.

Role of business organizations

The permanent secretary of CEIB and CEO of International Relations of CEOE, Narciso Casado, stressed that business organizations in Latin America have never been so committed and in line with the business reality of the Region, especially in the case of Spain and Brazil. In fact, he said, our membership in the largest business organization in the world, the OIE, which brings together 150 business organizations from 140 countries, is an unbeatable platform for collaboration between organizations.

He also highlighted that the meeting adds to the long list of activities and contacts that have been intensifying over the years between the two countries, the most recent being the one held during the visit to Spain of the Minister of Infrastructure from Brazil, Tarciso Gomes de Freitas, in early October. In this regard, he informed that CEOE has collaborated intensely with the governments of the different states, such as those of Goiás, Bahía, Piauri, Río Grande do Sul or Minas Gerais, among others.

Both CEOE and CNI have a similar structure and weight, since both are formed by territorial and sector organizations; and They contribute considerably to the promotion of business collaboration between the two countries, trying to improve the entrepreneurial and investor system and promoting public-private partnerships.

The latter, he said, represent an essential lever to boost the participation of private companies and create synergies with public actors. Reflection of our collaboration, he said, is the agreement that CEOE and CNI signed in 2012 in the framework of the visit of S.M. King Juan Carlos to Brazil, in order to strengthen business relations between both employers and between companies in both countries, both bilaterally, and in the context of Spanish membership of the EU and that of Brazil to Mercosur and all The Latin American region.

Casado also emphasized that it is decisive that the business organizations that integrate them can transmit their experience and specialization in the achievement of public-private projects spread all over the world. In fact, he continued, Spanish companies stand out especially in infrastructure (roads, bridges, ports, airports and railways), energy and water management. "Investing in Brazil is not an alternative, but a necessity," he said.

In fact, he added that there are 200 projects included in the investment association program and there are seven Spanish infrastructure companies participating in Brazil in 54 projects. In addition, Casado insisted on the important role that business organizations play in promoting intra-regional trade, which for the Ibero-American region is very scarce, 16%, while for the EU it amounts to 64%.

Current priorities of business organizations

The permanent secretary of CEIB highlighted more issues that are currently being worked on within the business organizations of the Region. Casado said that social dialogue, talent retention, investment in innovation, support for technology transfers, sustainable growth, open innovation, the transformation of ideas and, especially, what has been called “creative industries ”, Constitute the great solutions to the lack of competitiveness in Latin America.

In this regard, recently reminded the Ibero-American Secretary General, Rebeca Grynspan, that the world will have artificial intelligence, but not artificial creativity and, proof of this, he pointed out, is the “Orange Economy”, which Colombia is developing, with the support of its business organization, ANDI.

It is also worth mentioning, he informed, of the impulse and support that business organizations are giving to the subject of arbitration in Latin America, through the Ibero-American Arbitration Center (CIAR), of which we are founders and to which 70 institutions of the Region belong and who continue to join. "Yesterday, we were confirmed by business associations and bar associations throughout the Region, specifically from Uruguay, Ecuador, Peru and MEXICO," he said. Brazil, supported by the CNI, is together with San José (Costa Rica) and Madrid, one of the three headquarters of CIAR.

He also said that this support from business organizations is also reflected in other forums, such as the B20 or the Global Business Coalition, which includes 16 leading business organizations from the world's leading economies, and in which Both CNI and CEOE play a very active role.

Meetings

During his visit, the permanent secretary of CEIB, Narciso Casado, also met with the main representatives of the homologous business organization of CEOE, the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and the National Congress of Young Entrepreneurs (CONAJE), which is , in turn, member of the Ibero-American Federation of Young Entrepreneurs (FIJE).

In both meetings, Casado discussed the possibilities of collaboration with these organizations and; As permanent secretary of the Council of Ibero-American Businessmen (CEIB), he informed about the preparatory acts of the next Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government of Andorra in 2020, which It will bear the motto “Innovation for Sustainable Development. Objective 2030 ”.

Proof of this is the IV Ibero-American Forum of Mipyme, which will be held at the end of April in Brazil. This type of forums, he said, is especially aimed at SMEs (98% of companies and Latin America) and is committed to improving the conditions of access of SMEs to regional markets, thereby increasing the necessary intra-regional trade. Another issue he mentioned is the increasingly important role played by organizations of young entrepreneurs in the region, to incorporate young people into the labor market and promote their training from an early age.



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