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 Brazilian giant Petrobras announces for the first time in its history a surplus for 2006. The balance is estimated in US$ 3 billion, according to the company's press news. The new platform P-50 starting in March will guarantee self sufficient production of oil and positive results in the export operations. Petrobras is expected to increase around 9% a year until 2010, when it will reach 2.3 million barrels daily.
In January, Petrobras announced it reached a final agreement with American El Paso, concerning the acquisition of thermoelectric Macaé Merchant, in the state of Rio. After a three year negotiation process, Petrobras is buying the plant for US$ 357 million on top of the US$ 670 million already spent through December of 2004. The company had already bought Eletrobolte and Termoceará last year, with good profit in the horizon. According to the original contract, Petrobras would spend around US$ 2.1 billion with all three plants, without owning them. In the US Petrobras' business are not limited to buying a refinery in Pasadena, near Houston. The company is now exploring a submarine area acquired in auction in the Mexican Gulf. It is also providing the refinery, originally meant to refine light oil, with a converter that will allow the refinery of the Brazilian heavy oil, which will be used to produce lubricant and other fine by-products to be sold within the US. Before closing the deal, Petrobras president spoke directly with president Lula, who gave him the green light. The political importance of Petrobras for Brazil's President has increased immeasurably. Facing a not so easy electoral year, the President had his image affected by the Worker's Party vote buying and advertising campaign related scandals, so it should not come as a surprise when it is said that he is planning to use Petrobras' huge success to show his administration's abilities to do good business and take concrete steps to reach economic stability. Competence to deliver is then what will be shown to reach Brazilians who have grown disappointed and who might consider to change their vote. It will not be a surprise when President Lula announces the opening of the new platform P-50, and the Brazilian oil self-sufficiency in style, with a great deal of noise. Bringing his image up is badly needed to bring back many votes. Politically Correct and Profitable AmazonLife is a brand name involving 200 indigenous families and rubber workers of the Brazilian Amazon, which develops and manufactures sustainable products from the Amazon Forest. It is the result of Vegetable Leather of Amazon, a program created to organize the production of vegetable leather, a rubbery material from natural latex, to make bags and accessories. The goal is to reach the international market. Sales to France, US, Italy, Germany, and Holland already represent 60% of the company. A new Italian partner already joined the group, and will represent the new politically correct brand in Europe. There is already a store in Ipanema, Rio, and the models are all of indigenous origin. All the ingredients for success. Foreign Investors, Welcome The Brazilian government is studying the possibility to open participation of foreign investors in some of the country's financial institutions, including Brazil's biggest and strongest, Banco do Brasil. BB's present limit, now 5.6% would go to 25%. Capitalism at its finest. Straight from the Worker's Party administration. Of course. Mr. Trump Sets Foot in Brazil Donald Trump's eyes are wide open in Brazil. Building a super resort in São Paulo is not enough for "the" Donald. He has bought an island in Angra dos Reis, where he is going to build a golf resort, with runway for airplanes and a luxury hotel. It is also a fact that the big entrepreneur has Brazil in mind to hold the Miss Universe contest. Anyone interested? Brazilian Coffee Top of the World in 60 Countries, Brazil beat its own record in 2005, as the world's number one producer of coffee, with a rise of 43.8% in relation to 2004. The country has been working to increase its participation in the international market. Brazil produces today 40% of the world's coffee, selling 26 million export sacks of coffee and keeping 15 million home. For 2006 the goal is to reach 42 million sacks. Better product quality and competitive prices have been the main factors responsible for the purchase of Brazilian coffee in over 60 countries. For the next 10 years it is estimated that the world will demand around 146 million sacks of coffee. Today's demand is around 119 million. In order to keep up as the top coffee exporter, Brazil will have to increase production to be able to export 60 million units per year, keeping 24 million sacks for home use and exporting 36 million. With an eye in the market, the government invested US$ 5.6 million for research in 2005, and US$ 8.4 million will be spent in 2006. To promote Brazilian coffee, US$ 2.1 million were spent last year and another US$ 2.6 million is already available for 2006 while US$ 7 million is being requested, according to information from the official coffee office, Funcafé. Numbers Do Not Lie Despite the poor numbers in the US, Ford did very well in South America. In Brazil alone, which represents 70% of the industry total gains in the southern hemisphere, Ford's numbers are the highest since it first came to the country in 1919. The good numbers go for the entire automobile industry in Brazil, which in 2005 reached an unprecedented production peak of 2.4 million. Brazil in America Brazilian singer and composer Gilberto Gil, Minister of Culture and winner of this year's Grammy in the category of World Music with "Eletracústico," was in New York in January launching a new program called Brazil in America, a partnership with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The program, sort of an international version of the Pixinguinha project in Brazil, will sponsor shows throughout the 120 centers Broward has all over the country. Gil spoke about the global nature of culture and the importance of promoting Brazilian culture and also of creating areas of culture near Brazilian communities abroad. He spoke of the close relationship between American and Brazilian culture, the already existing market, mostly focused on music, and how other forms of art need support to cross borders, this being the main reason to establish the partnership. Brazil will use the Rouanet Law, which allows tax deductions for cultural projects, to fund the program at first, believing it will catch up and be able to walk on its own feet. India Wants a Taste of Brazil India is surprising the world and has become a top favorite among international investors. And now, India is looking to invest in Brazil, in film of all things. With Bollywood, Hollywood India's, growing fast, the new billionaires are looking for interesting locations. The cupid's arrow landed in Rio de Janeiro, of course, and its sceneries of extreme beauty. Three Indian producers have been talking to Rio's Commission of Film, an entity that intermediates the use of locations throughout the city. Villa-Lobos Piano Contest An international event, the Villa- Lobos Piano Contest will happen in São Paulo, August 13-20, under the artistic direction of the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, sponsored by Group Andrade Gutierrez, CCR and Telemar. The event aims at promoting Villa-Lobos' symphonic and concert work among pianists and musicians from all over the world, as well as part of a more ample work to promote Brazilian classical music. Eleven carefully chosen international personalities from the classic music world led by Brazilian pianist Nélson Freire, will judge the participants. First prize, US$ 30,000, recording a CD and contracts for concerts with Brazilian and international orchestras. Second prize, US$ 10,000 , third, US$ 5,000, and fourth, US$ 2,500. The best Brazilian candidate will receive US$ 2,000. The contest is open for all nationalities, for those born after August 19, 1969 and the deadline is March 24, 2006. Participants selected will have airline tickets and room and board two days before and during tests. More information available at:
http://www.cipvl.org
http://www.brazilny.org Director of Pixote Picks Gael Gael Garcia Bernal, star of Y Tu Mamá También, The Motorcycle Diaries, and La Mala Educación, spent a whole day with Argentinean-Brazilian director Hector Babenco, of Pixote. The two read over the script for the new Babenco film, a love story based on Alan Paul's book and the decision has been made: Gael will star the production of 10 million reais (US$ 4.7 million), funded by Brazilian companies such as Vivo and Santander, and BNDES. Argentinean Shock Filmes, responsible for many productions of the good Argentinean new cinema, will also fund the film whose work title is O Passado (The Past). Babenco's latest movie, Carandiru, about the prison riot in São Paulo, did not get much attention from the international critics. With Gael in the leading role, the film should attract a lot of interest. Gael has marked his presence as a good actor, who is also controversial and daring. After the success of Y Tu Mamá También, he played Che Guevara (The Motorcycle Diaries, of Walter Salles) and surprised the world with his role as a homosexual/transvestite in La Mala Educación by Pedro Almodóvar. The gorgeous Mexican actor is already in two movies in 2006, Toto (pre-production), and Babel (post-production). Clara Angelica Porto is a Brazilian bilingual journalist living in New York. She went to school in Brazil and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Clara is presently working as the English writer for The Brasilians, a monthly newspaper in Manhattan. Comments welcome at
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