FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 25, 2011
CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
202-482-4883
Following President Obama’s trip to Brazil, the U.S. Commerce Department has opened the recruitment period for U.S. companies to apply for private sector membership in the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum. Secretary Gary Locke co-chaired the sixth meeting of the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum this past weekend, where U.S. and Brazilian business leaders discussed concrete recommendations to improve trade between the two countries.
“Our nations established the U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum to add an important private-sector voice to the discussion on growing trade and investment, and creates jobs in both countries,” Locke said. “The cooperative efforts already underway between our two countries will increase America’s and Brazil’s global competitiveness.”
The Forum, made up of 20 CEOs from the United States and Brazil, meets twice a year to make recommendations to the two governments on ways to strengthen the U.S.-Brazil economic relationship. The U.S. CEOs serve two-year terms, and are selected from respondents to a joint Commerce-White House Federal Register notice for applicants to the U.S. section of the Forum.
The Forum’s recommendations have advanced discussions between the United States and Brazil governments on important issues such as visa reform, customs procedures, education, energy, trade facilitation and infrastructure.
With a potential market of 195 million consumers, and per capita incomes forecasted to grow at an average rate of six percent during the next several years, Brazil offers tremendous opportunities to U.S. exporters of goods and services. In the past five years, trade between the United States and Brazil has more than doubled with total U.S. goods and services exports to Brazil in 2010 estimated to be more than $50 billion. Brazil is among the fastest growing economies in the world and is anticipated to grow by between 4 and 5 percent in 2011.
Companies interested in participating in the Forum should view the Federal Register notice at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/2011-5073.htm for information on how to apply. Applications should be received no later than April 29, 2011.
