I’m a huge soccer fan thanks to Brazilian great Pele, who introduced me to the game. So with the 2010 World Cup only a few months away, I was happy to read today that Brazil moved into the top spot in the FIFA World rankings .
This puts Brazil in pole position to go into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as the world’s top-ranked team.
But Brazil’s world dominance isn’t limited to the soccer field. Brazil is also home to one of the world’s top-ranked economies.
Some of Brazil’s economic speed gauges are reaching near red lines.The economy grew at least 10% in the first quarter of 2010 and is forecast expand by 5.5% this year—though some economists expect the growth rate to reach 7%, its fastest pace in decades.
We’re talking about a country that 9 months ago lent the International Monetary Fund $10 billion dollars to help improve the availability of credit in developing countries. It’s the first time that South America’s biggest economy has ever made a loan of this kind.
In the past Brazil was more accustomed to seeking help from the International Monetary Fund and the fact that it is now able to offer a loan instead is a striking indication of how its position has changed.
The news about Brazil’s booming economy is dominated by big business, foreign investment, a huge consumer appetite, and the prospects of oil. But Brazil has also blazed forward as an entrepreneurial leader and represents a growing market for businesses wishing to expand their goods and services.
The World Bank and International Finance Corporation just released their latest report, Doing Business in Brazil and is an excellent guidepost for anyone thinking about doing business in Brazil.
The Report is embedded in its entirety below:
Doing Business Brazil
Also be sure to read these additional resources.
- BuyUSA.gov
- Embassy of the United States in Brazil
- Brazil U.S. Business Council
- Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce
-Santiago