3. Fast Fact
• Monetary unit:
Real
• Major industries:
Textiles and other consumer
goods, shoes, chemicals
• Primary Trading Partners:
United States, Argentina, the
Netherlands, China, Germany, Mexico, Nig
eria, Japan.
4. Exportation and Importation
Key Exports
• Iron ore
• Soybean bran
• Orange juice
• Footwear
Key Imports
• Capital goods
• Chemical products
• Oil
• Electricity
5. Major cities, language and religion
Major cities
• Brazilia
• São Paulo
• Rio de Janeiro
• Belo Horizonte
Languages
• Portuguese (the
official language)
• Spanish
• English
• French
Religion
• 90%, Roman
Catholic
7. Greetings
• Shake hands upon meeting. When
leaving a small group, shake hands
with all who are present.
• When greeting, good friends often
embrace. Women often kiss each
other on alternating cheeks.
• Brazilians tends to use first names,
but do not do so until you are
asked.
• A common greeting is Come vai?
(How are you?)
• Bring plenty of business cards.
8. Conversation
• Brazilians enjoy talking about their
country’s rapid development, its
industry, and the natural resources of
the country, including the beautiful
beaches.
• Soccer is the national sport.
• Be expressive in your speech. Brazilians
enjoy conversation and are likely to be
very expressive and passionate in their
viewpoints. Brazilians are comfortable
with showing emotion and enjoy good
jokes and love to laugh.
• Don’t ask personal questions (such as
age or salary). Don’t be surprised,
however, if you are asked personal
questions.
• Your counterpart may be only about one
foot from you if you are talking while
standing up.
9. Sensitivities
• Avoid talking about politics
or religion
• Avoid voicing your opinions
on the deforestation of
Brazilian forests.
• Avoid speaking Spanish to
Brazilians; this may be
offensive even though they
understand the language.
• Avoid using the American
“okay” sign, with the thumb
and index finger forming a
circle. This is an obscene
gesture in Brazil.
10. Key Negotiating Pointers
• Brazilians like to bargain
• Be punctual for your negotiating session, though your counterpart will probably
arrive a few minutes after the appointed time. An exception is in Sao Paulo, where
punctuality is practiced.
• Negotiators are likely to move at a fast pace in São Paulo than in other parts of
Brazil.
• Be aware that some use of phony facts may occur at the early stages of the
negotiation.
• Brazilians expect deception among negotiators who do not know one other.
• Get a written agreement.
• Speak English or use an interpreter unless you speak Portuguese.
12. Business Entertainment Guidelines
• Meals are considered to be a social
event. Business is occasionally
discussed during meals in Sao Paulo
or Rio.
• If you are invited to a private home
for dinner, bring a small gift such as
Candy, wine, or small figurine.
• In restaurants, the check is
requested with the phrase A conta,
por favor. Tips are usually included
in the bill. If not, 10 to 15 percent is
appropriate.
13. Table Manners and Food
• Avoid touching food with your
fingers while eating. Wipe your
mouth before taking a drink.
• Conversation after a meal often
takes place over a cup of strong
black coffe (cafezinho).
• In Rio, the favorite dish is
feijoada, consisting of black beans
with
beef, pork, sausage, tongue, and -
-- yes --- sometimes a pig´s
ears, nose and tail. Fejoido is the
Brazilian national dish.
• A favorite national drink is
caipirnha, a tasty drink made with
pinga (sugar cane liquor), sugar
and lemon.
14. Gender Issues
• Overall, international businesswomen find a
favorable business climate in Brazil.
• There is less machismo in Brazil than Mexico.
Brazilian women often fill professional jobs in
education, medicine, and journalism, and are
sometimes small-business owners. Brazilian
women are slowly starting to attain managerial
positions.
• Brazilian men tend to stare at and make
comments about women passing by on the
street.
15. Also Remember This …
• Brazil is a good long-term market
with almost 190 million people. It
has the largest economy in Latin
America, and has the eight largest
economies in the world. U.S.
goods are highly valued and south
after, and there is generally a
positive attitude about doing
business with the United States.
• Brazil is going through several
economic reforms, focusing on
privatization, reducing corruption
and the historically high inflation,
and other areas.
16. • The Brazilian economy has been helped by
substantial foreign investment in the past few
years.
• Although Brazil has large oil reserves, it must
import about one-fourth of its oil because it
lacks oil-refining capacity.
• Carnaval, a five-day festival preceding Ash
Wednesday, is a world-famous event in Rio de
Janeiro, and is celebrated throughout Brazil.
17. Enterprise
Is a Brazilian-born company, which produces and markets
cosmetics (creams, perfumes, soaps, makeup, oils, hair
products, etc..) throughout Latin America. It is characterized by
the quality of their products, care governing their production
chain, and especially by the constant concern for the
environment and its protection.
Address: Col. Florida #24. 09678
Distrito Federal.
Telephone: 54255498
Website : www.natura.com.br
18. Intelbras is a producer of telephones and private
telephone systems. Intelbras headquarters are in
Sao Jose, Brazil and the company also operates in
the rest of Latin America, Europe and the United
States.
19. Case
• Coppel is trying to expand its market to Brazil and, as a
primary task; they need to send someone to negotiate with
Brazilian investors who have shown interest in opening a
new branch in the city of São Paulo.
• With a degree in International Business, you have been
“The Chosen One”. Although you have experience working
with local people, this is your first international negotiation
and you want to make your best to succeed.
• The problems are that you do not know anything of
Portuguese and, also, you are not familiarized with the
Brazilian culture. For that reason, you have decided to meet
up with your friend Frank to ask him some questions and
advices.
