Itamaraty, the Brazilian Foreign Office announced Tuesday, June 9, the release of portal "Brasileiros no Mundo" (Brazilians Worldwide) that is dedicated to Brazilian communities abroad. The objective, according to the site itself, is to expand dialogue between the Itamaraty and expatriates and also among expatriates themselves.
According to information on the company site, the number of Brazilians residing abroad may be as high as 3.7 million people, and the regions with greatest presence of expatriates are the United States, Europe, other countries in South America, Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Africa and Central America.
The figures, according to the Itamaraty, were obtained at Brazilian consulates, but are not precise. The estimates always consider minimum and maximum population and there is great difference between both ends. For example, in Lebanon, the Arab country with the greatest Brazilian population, the lowest estimate is a community of 9,400 people and the highest, 50,000.
The Itamaraty informs that the numbers are not exact, as many Brazilians do not register at consulates, so estimates are based on different sources, like official figures, academic research and articles published in the press. Registration at the consulate is optional and the site informs how to do it.
Apart from population figures, the portal also brings news, lists of Brazilian organizations abroad, press vehicles in the communities, bibliographical references and audiovisual material on the matter as well as consular information and lists of institutions that aid immigrants.
According to information supplied by the Itamaraty, the portal was launched as part of an effort to bring the government closer to Brazilian communities abroad, especially at this moment of international crisis.
The site was launched prior to the 2nd Brazilians Worldwide Conference, to take place in the second half of the year in Rio de Janeiro. The first meeting of the kind took place last year and brought together diplomats, representatives of the main Brazilian communities abroad, foreign authorities, organisations of the civil society and employees of different government organisations.
This initiative, according to the Itamaraty, plans to create an international network of contacts for the exchange of information, clarification of doubts and resolution of expatriate demands.
The organizers of the portal are requesting reader assistance for constant updating of the site. Material may be sent to e-mail brasileirosnomundo@mre.gov.br.
Service
Brasileiros no Mundo: www.brasileirosnomundo.mre.gov.br/pt-br/
