NordicLight - Version June 22
NordicLight - Version June 22
NordicLight - Version June 22
SWEDCHAM.COM.BR
NBCC.COM.BR
FINNCHAM.ORG.BR
Um Volvo não se cansa de estrada.
Nem de ser campeão de vendas.
Volvo FH 540: mais uma vez,
o mais vendido do Brasil.
Scania N
JANUARY – JUNE 2023 >> contents
4. Swedcham celebrates 70 and SEB 50 Years in Brazil 24. Gripen E factory inaugurated in Gavião Peixoto with
president Lula da Silva and ministers from both countries
28. The Swedish Experience in Sustainable Wooden Centerfold . Business Climate Survey launched
with Ambassador Karin Wallensteen, Business Leaders
Construction - Swedish architect Robert Schmitz visits Curitiba Panel and Swedcham´s Advisory Council
31. President of Finland, Sauli 43. Two Women Lead the Way in 64. Busy semester for Swedcham
Niinistö, makes an official visit to Brazil Promoting Brazil-Norway Cooperation. Young Professionals
Others
8. Embassy Update >> 10. Business Sweden >> 18. Sweden in São Paulo >> 22. Sweden in Rio
26. Brazilcham News >> 31. FinnCham pages >> 43. NBCC pages >> 54. Swedcham News
60. Member News >> 64. Young professionals >> 68. Innovation & Sustainability Committee
70. Legal Framework for Business Development >> 72. Communication & Marketing >> 73. Human Capital
>> Cover Story
O
Carlos Alberto Sardenberg – a well-known
n March 21st, almost 200 dinner guests gathered at and highly respected journalist and commentator on
Villa Bisutti in São Paulo, and the main reasons to cele- national TV and radio.
brate were that Swedcham is turning 70 years and SEB Lais Peretto Executive Director at Child-
50 years in Brazil, and on top of that the book Passion hood Brasil who works persistently to implement
for Business and People was released. Childhood´s vision: to ensure that all children have a
Swedcham´s Chairman Sergio Quiroga gave the safe and loving childhood.
welcome words and the speakers to follow were ambassador Karin Many CEOs and other high executives from
Wallensteen, Swedcham´s Managing Director Jonas Lindström, Chris- the larger Swedish companies in Brazil were also
tian Rezende, Chief Representative at SEB in São Paulo and John Arne present and enjoyed a pleasant night of speeches,
Wang, Head of SEB in the United States. Lindström highlighted some food, drinks and music.
people present at the event who have been speakers at the Chamber, Lindström also expressed his deepest gratitude
starting with the ambassador, Karin Wallensteen, former State Secre- to three people who could not participate in the
tary and having worked very closely with Prime Ministers Stefan Löfven dinner, namely
and Magdalena Andersson. Christer Manhusen – former ambassador and
Amyr Klink – the first person to row (!) across the South Atlantic Swedcham chairman. The Chamber would not be
leaving from Namibia and arriving 100 days later in Salvador, Brazil. where it is today without his wholehearted dedica-
Another of many of his achievements was to be the first to take the Jonas Steffensson at Nexer
shortest and most dangerous route around Antarctica. receives the first copy of the book
Gloria Vanique – one of Brazil’s most popular
news anchors and reporters having worked for
Globo and CNN.
Lars Björkström – who came to Brazil
in the 70s on a motorbike having driven
from the USA. Later he joined forces
with Brazilian Alex Welter and won Brazil´s first
tion during more than 20 years. timeless mirror reflecting an exciting present and a window showcasing a
Håkan Buskhe – CEO at FAM, who at an early bright future to come.
stage agreed to co-finance the book. Within its pages, “Sweden in Brazil...” highlights the outstanding ef-
Anders Sjöman – Head of Communication at forts of the Swedish-Brazilian business community throughout the past
the Centre for Business History in Stockholm, an out- seven decades: from the stories of pioneers who laid the foundations
standing writer and a key person for the book project. for this journey, to the impressive numbers that reflect the astonishing
The Chamber, 70 years old, stands firm today success of Swedish businesses, and the young entrepreneurs currently
thanks to brilliant team work with many dedicated exploring the Brazilian market. It pays tribute to the voices of all these
people involved, including the Board of Directors passionate individuals who have chosen Brazil as their “home” for busi-
the small but efficient staff, Committee Coordina- ness, regardless of the challenges they face.
tors and the communication agency EvCom. Thank Yuri Gomes
you all – let´s continue to write history - together! Journalist, Swedcham intern
Jonas Lindström
Managing Director SEB – 50 years in Brazil
SEB began its activities in Brazil in 1972 and since then has supported
About the book the Brazilian subsidiaries of its home markets clients through advice and
As modern Sweden reaches its 500th anniver- financial solutions.
sary in 2023, the country’s institutions, values, and SEB together with Swedcham had the pleasure to host the event to
influence are stronger than ever. In Brazil, located celebrate its 50 +1 years of local presence and also the 70-years anniver-
11,000 km away from Scandinavia, the Swedish- sary of Swedcham.
Brazilian Chamber of Commerce also celebrates an Christian Rezende, the country head of SEB Brasil, gave a warm
important milestone: 70 years of existence. welcome to all the guests. In his speech, he showed an exciting institu-
To honor these 70 years, Swedcham, the Em- tional video about SEB’s history and commitment to its clients and spoke
bassy of Sweden in Brazil, the Wallenberg Founda- about the office’s local activities since the early 70’s, a decade known as
tion (FAM), and the Centre for Business History of the economic miracle of the country. Rezende mentioned that Brazil was
Stockholm joined forces to create “Sweden in Brazil: the first country where SEB expanded its international presence outside
A Story of Passion for Business and People.” Europe in order to follow the clients and support their business. During
The book is an invitation for a diverse range of all these years Brazil had its ups and downs, but one thing has never
readers to dive into the historic, traditional, and changed, which is the group’s long-term view for the country and for the
fruitful partnership—and friendship—between business relations with its clients,
Swedes and Brazilians. Moreover, it serves as a both in good and bad times. John
Arne Wang, head of SEB in the
United States, was also present on
stage to thank everyone for their
presence and ratified SEB’s long-
term commitment in Brazil.
Christian Rezende
Chief Representative – SEB in Brazil
ABB Management Team enjoying SEB Sao Paulo team together with John Arne Wang
the Celebration Dinner from USA and Sandra Marholm - SEB Sweden.
Nordic Light 5
6 JANUARY – JUNE 2023
Embassy Update
Dear friends,
Although I had the chance to convey this already at
the magic evening of celebrating the 70th anniversary of
the Swedish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, I wish to,
once more, congratulate Swedcham for its 70 successful
years of stimulating commercial activity and networking
between Brazil and Sweden. On behalf of the govern-
ment of Sweden and the Embassy of Sweden, I want to
thank you for the important work you do in fostering
business relations between Sweden and Brazil.
On June 6, Sweden celebrated its national day. This
year, we also celebrated that it was 500 years since Gus-
tav Vasa was elected king, in 1523 – the beginning of a Delegation of the Financial Committee from Sweden, in official
new era that shaped modern Sweden. visit to Brazil, May 2023; and the Swedish ambassador, Karin
Wallensteen.
This year also celebrates His Majesty the King’s 50 years as Credit: Patricia Cordeiro / Swedish Embassy
Sweden’s head of state, having ascended the throne on 15 Sep-
tember 1973. He is Sweden’s longest-reigning monarch of all time. During my first year as the Ambassador of Sweden in
And of course, for all of us living in this country, we are proud that Brazil, I have had the privilege of visiting many Swedish
he chose as his wife and queen Silvia Sommerlath, the daughter of companies in Brazil – and I wish to visit many more. The
a Brazilian mother, who spent many young years here in Brazil. Her presence in Brazil of Swedish business and industry is a
Majesty Queen Silvia is a pioneer in children’s rights and well-be- solid pillar of the strategic partnership which Sweden has
ing and in the treatment of elder with dementia, and an honorary had with Brazil since 2009.
member of the Swedish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. Queen For me as an ambassador, it is thrilling to learn about
Silvia has brought Brazil and Sweden closer. Swedish companies. It is evident from my interaction with
Brazilian representatives, both in the former and in the new
administration, what high degree of respect that is attrib-
uted to Swedish companies.
But the curiosity in Sweden and Swedish companies
stretches beyond the trademarks we are associated with –
whether they are commercial such as the names and logos
of your companies – or are value-based trademarks, such as
sustainability, innovation, technology, social dialogue, and
equality.
I find that Brazil and the region look to Sweden for solu-
tions for which are yet to come. Together, Sweden’s compa-
nies and community have the edge, the knowledge and the
creativity which will shape the future.
Both countries have a joint interest in exploring innova-
tive solutions in areas of the future, particularly when it
comes to digitalization, green transition, and sustainability.
Sara Modig, Secretary to Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Karin
Wallensteen, Swedish Ambassador in Brazil. The efforts of Team Sweden in Brazil – a cooperation co-
Credit: Patricia Cordeiro / Swedish Embassy ordinated by Jonas Montpaz at the Swedish Embassy, which
also includes Business Sweden, Swedcham, the Swed- the free trade agreement is first and foremost based on our
ish Consulates in Brazil as well as the Swedish-Brazilian own experience of using trade to increase the quality of our
Research and Innovation Centre (CISB) – is a strong asset to products and the productivity of manufacturing. Competi-
Swedish businesses in Brazil. tion has made Sweden prosperous. Both regions have much
I am immensely proud of Team Sweden as well as Swedish to gain from increased trade. But the gains are not only
companies and the work you do in Brazil. Your commitment to economic. We also believe in this agreement to bring our
developing Brazil reflects positively on Sweden as a country. two regions closer.
Every company I have met – without any exception – These were also messages which were repeated across
have mentioned sustainability as a key factor. The numbers the political spectrum, when we in the middle of May had
and facts as presented in this year’s Business Climate Survey the visit of the Swedish Riksdag’s Finance Committee. The
among the Swedish companies in Brazil prove my points. EU-Mercosul agreement has also been a major priority for
In the last months, the political exchange between Brazil the Swedish EU Presidency, ending this month.
and Sweden has increased. This is mostly due to the end of I would also like to mention the upcoming summit be-
the pandemic, but is also, I believe, a consequence of a re- tween EU and Latin American and the Caribbean states, to
newed curiosity in Brazil with the change of administration. take place in Brussels on the 17-18th of July. Sweden hopes
My expectation is an increase in political interest for Brazil this will manifest and encourage the strong ties between
from Stockholm. To a certain extent, this has already started. Europe and this dynamic and reliable region.
In November 2022, State Secretary Sara Modig, with only Finally, let’s take a look ahead to the second semester
a few days on the job, came to participate in the Sweden- of this year. As part of the strategic partnership, Sweden
Brazil innovation weeks in Salvador and São Paulo. and Brazil regularly conduct high-level dialogues on busi-
In April this year, State Secretary Peter Sandwall par- ness, trade, industry, science, and education. The Business
ticipated in the defence fair LAAD in Rio de Janeiro with Leader’s Forum, BLF, is the business component of this
bilateral meetings with Minister José Mucio, as well as with strategic partnership. It is lead on the Brazil side by CNI.
all three branches of the Brazilian defense. Locally, here in Brazil, it is organized by Andreas Rentner,
In May, in the presence of President Lula, Saab and Em- the Swedish Trade Commissioner and Business Sweden’s
braer, inaugurated the assembly line of the fifteen Gripen jet Country Manager in Brazil.
fighters which will be built in the state of São Paulo. Min- It is a forum which enables discussions on priorities
ister of Civil Defense Carl Oskar Bohlin participated – and to achieve the overall objective of economic growth and
at the margins of the opening of the plant had substantial increased global competitiveness through cooperation
discussions with the President. Those were followed-up the between our countries’ business communities. The next BLF
day after, in Brasilia, when he met with vice president and will take place in São Paulo in November.
Minister of Industry Geraldo Alckmin.
Among the messages of Minister Bohlin to Vice Presi- Best regards
dent Alckmin was that of Sweden’s strong support to an Karin Wallensteen
EU-Mercosul association agreement. Sweden’s support to Ambassador
Nordic Light 9
>> Business Sweden
T
nesses of all sizes to build fully automated chatbots.
he world’s most anticipated technology event, Web Sum- Sinch’s rapid growth and success made them one of
mit, made its debut in Rio de Janeiro this past May. Over Sweden’s most promising companies and was the
the course of four days, the event brought together more host of the Swedish Pavilion Happy Hour.
than 21,000 tech enthusiasts, from 42 countries and rep- The final day of Web Summit saw the Swedish
resenting 28 diverse industries. Among the multitude of Pavilion abuzz with activity, as hundreds of visitors
participants were 900 companies and startups, each eager flocked to explore the wonders of Swedish innova-
to showcase their groundbreaking innovations and establish connections tion and learn about the abundant opportunities
with industry leaders. awaiting them in Sweden. It was a pleasure for all
Among the international participants, the Swedish Pavilion stood out involved to engage with such a diverse range of
as a shining beacon of technological prowess and retail excellence. Spear- companies at the forefront of technological ad-
headed by Business Sweden, in close association with Swedcham and the vancement. Business Sweden was delighted to have
Swedish Embassy, the Swedish Pavilion housed seven Swedish superstars in facilitated countless interactions and connections
technology and retail. Sinch, Zimpler, Njorda, Avidity, Neovici, and FinanZero for their partners, solidifying their role as catalysts of
astounded attendees with their cutting-edge offerings, leaving no doubt as international collaboration and innovation.
to why Sweden holds the title of the world’s most innovative country.
The Swedish Pavilion opened its doors on May 2nd with an explosion
of energy, courtesy of the iconic Swedish retailer IKEA. Bringing the re-
nowned Scandinavian design to the vibrant ambiance of Rio de Janeiro’s
autumn, IKEA captivated visitors with its fusion of functionality and style.
On the following day, the Swedish Pavilion welcomed its esteemed
partners, who took center stage to introduce their companies to the crowd.
Daniel Roos, from Njorda, delivered a compelling presentation on how the
platform is revolutionizing the investment landscape in Sweden, democratiz-
ing access to opportunities for all. Gunnar Hansson and Richard La Roche
then took the stage to recount the inspiring story behind Avidity and shed
Deadline August 15
Nordic Light 11
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Experience a safer
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>> Editorials
1953
2023
In March 1953, a group of insightful business leaders, This has been a very promising year for NBCC in which we
all working for Swedish businesses in Brazil, met at the are evaluating other services to be provided, developing
Matarazzo building in downtown São Paulo. They wanted new areas to be invested to comprehensively represent
to find ways to further strengthen the already close ties our members and the Norwegian community, and redefining
between Sweden and Brazil – and their meeting became the roles of the members of the Board, the President and
the start of Swedcham. If they were to appear again to- the Executive Committee.
day, 70 years later, I believe they would be pleased to see In March 2023, NBCC organized two very interesting events
that Swedcham continues to stand solid in 2023. about the Norwegian Transparency Act and Challenges
Parts of our story have just been published in the book on Gender Equality and Inclusion, and co organized with
Sweden in Brazil – A Story of Passion for Business and SWEDCHAM on notable events such as “Renewables in
People. You can find an English and a Portuguese version Focus” with Elbia Gannoum, CEO of ABEEÓLICA
of the book on our website. NBCC’s Annual General Meeting happened in April with the
The foreword is written by HM Queen Silvia who congratu- presence of the BNDES Superintendent of the Energy Transition
lates the Chamber on successful building of bridges and Climate – Carla Primavera – and Consul General at Norwe-
between our two beloved countries. gian Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro – Marianne Fosland.
Former Swedish Ambassador and Swedcham Chairman, In May, the HR Committee promoted a discussion on the
Christer Manhusen emphasizes in his chapter the Cham- role of HR in combating harassment in organizations.
ber’s role as a pillar for Swedish business life in Brazil and We also had the Finance Committee session on strategic
Håkan Buskhe, CEO of FAM writes that the book reflects financial skills of modern managers with executive and
the dynamic meeting place that the Chamber offers and writer Roberto Bento in partnership with SWEDCHAM,
the many network opportunities it provides for Swedish in which valuable insights about the strategic financial
Brazilian business to continue to flourish. skills of modern managers were provided.
Encouraging words from admirable people which inspire NBCC continued its engagement to promote information
us to continue managing the Chamber´s legacy and pre- and discussions to this very sensitive topic of energy
serve it as the valuable asset for members and other stake transition. In May, in collaboration with the Norwegian
holders as it still is today. Consulate, it sponsored a seminar named Energy Transition
Some investments this festive year have been a remodeling and the Green Shift: Brazil and Norway into the future.
of the hall and auditorium, a new camera system, an For the second semester of 2023, we will continue to
institutional film, the book project and a 70-anniversary promote important missions and events meeting the
dinner, but more will come! demands of our members.
This edition of NordicLight shows clearly that we are an As NBCC President, I must say it is a privilege to be
active and vibrant meeting place for Swedish and Brazilian part of such an important entity, that indeed stands
companies, and we are for its main drives:
very pleased of also develop valuable
having pages both network arenas for its
about Norway in Brazil members, promote and
and Finland in Brazil. enable business growth,
- Let´s continue writing investment, trade and
history – together! collaboration between
Norway and Brazil.
Nordic Light 13
>> Our Gold, Silver and Bronze Members
Gold Members
Silver Members
Bronze Members
By Peter Johansson
Sweden in São Paulo Honorary Vice-Consul
Nordic Light 19
Sweden in São Paulo
Following the previous year, the activities of the first semes- G•Stic: Global Sustainable
ter of 2023 continued in good steps to assert the presence technology & Innovation
of Sweden in Rio de Janeiro. Sustainability, culture and The opening cerimony of the 6ª G•Stic: Global Sustainable
defense have been at the center of the work of our consu- technology & Innovation (12/02) hosted by the Oswaldo Cruz
late. With the vision of fostering relations between Brazil Foundation highlighted the experiences and challenges posed
and Sweden, our consulate has been working closely with by the covid-19 pandemic and the importance of tackling the
different government and academic actors. This year alone, challenges of international cooperation and importance of low-
we were present at important international events such as carbon economies. Honorary Consul General Jan Lomholdt has
G-STIC Rio, LAAD and XX Forte and have introduced the reflected during the conference that Sweden values science and
National Protection Agency of Sweden to different pub- technology as tools to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, the preser-
lic and private Brazilian entities to dialogue about waste vation of the planet and the health of the world’s population.
management and renewable energy. In parallel with the
Swedish Presidency programme we continue to be guided by
the 2030 Agenda, with efforts to create a more sustainable XX FORTE - International
future for all. Security Conference
Ambassador Karin Wallensteen met the Head of the South
America Division European External Action Service - Ms. Vero-
Nordic ambassadors meet nique Lorenzo during the largest security conference in Latin
with Brazilian Navy America which aims to promote dialogue on the challenges
Our ambassador Karin Wallensteen and Honorary Consul
and solutions for the current global geopolitical situation
General Jan Lomholdt were especially greeted by Vice-
in terms of security. The event took place at the Museum of
Admiral Eduardo Vasquez and received by the former Navy
Tomorrow between the 1st and 2nd of June.
Commander Alte. Ilques Barbosa Júnior and Vice Admiral
Throughout the day Ambassador Karin and the consulate’s
Celso Mizutani Koga.
team attended different panels that addressed the role of Latin
During the meeting, the former Navy Commander Alt. Ilques
America and Europe in the changing global order. The main
Barbosa Júnior presented the lecture “Brazil in the current
topics were the war in Ukraine, strategic cooperation for peace-
geopolitical moment” followed by a panel discussion made up
keeping and the strengthening of bilateral relations between
of Nordic ambassadors and consuls.
Brazil and the European Union.
Nordic Light 23
Gripen E production line inaugurated in Brazil
By Cristiana Pontual*
S
aab and Embraer inaugurated on the 9th of May the production
line for Gripen E in Brazil, at Embraer´s plant in Gavião Peixoto
(São Paulo State). The event was attended by high-ranking civil
and military authorities. The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula
da Silva, participated in the ceremony, together with the Minister
of Defense, José Múcio Monteiro Filho, the Swedish Minister of
Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin and the Brazilian Air Force Commander,
General Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno, among other important guests. From Left: Embraer CEO – Bosco da Costa Junior, Minister
The inauguration of the production line, which is the first one for Gripen of Defence – José Múcio Monteiro Filho, President Luiz
Inácio Lula da Silva, Saab CEO – Micael Johansson
E outside of Sweden, marks the delivery of one of the most significant Minister for Civil Defense – Carl-Oscar Bohlin.
contributions to the Gripen fighter ecosystem in Brazil. The Embraer plant in
Gavião Peixoto is home to the development, production and testing stages Air Force. The aim is also to produce here any future
of the fighter with the Gripen Design and Development Network (GDDN), Gripen orders from Brazil as well as from other
the Gripen Flight Test Center (GFTC), and now the production line. countries. We want Brazil to become an export hub
“The start of operations of the Gripen production line marks our commit- to Latin America and potentially other regions”, said
ment to transfer technology and knowledge to the Brazilian industry. Here, Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab.
we will produce 15 of the 36 aircraft currently contracted to the Brazilian “The start of production of the F-39 Gripen
aircraft in Brazil symbolizes the achievement of an
ambitious project that promotes technology transfer,
job creation and the consequent development of
Brazil’s aerospace sector. Thanks to a solid partner-
ship between the Air Force, Saab and Embraer, we are
now part of the select group of countries that have
the capability to build supersonic aircraft. Congratula-
tions to all involved!” rejoiced the Brazilian Air Force
Commander, General Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno.
In the year the company turned 100 years old, in 2019, Electrolux launched the Better Living Program as an 11-year
action plan that aims to shape better and more sustainable living around the world. Its focus is an evolving list of
100 bold actions that the company pledges to undertake by 2030. These actions represent Electrolux commitment
to the four clear targets defined across four categories:
To accelerate sustainable innovation, in 2021 the company selected a team of young people from around the world to
join the change-maker team. In the open letter, signed by CEO Jonas Samuelson, Electrolux invites young people
between the ages of 15 and 20 to join the company’s Innovation Hub. The young people took part in exploration
sessions accompanied by some of today’s most influential change-makers to help explore solutions for better living in
2030.
As part of the same initiative, to accomplish bold 2030 targets for a better and more sustainable living, Electrolux
conducted a global survey to examine young people’s views on sustainable living now and in the future. The study was
carried out in 2021 with almost 14,000 young people, aged 15 to 20, in 13 countries, to understand their fears, dreams
and hopes for a more sustainable future and provide solutions aligned with young people, taking better actions today
that will define their future.
In Brazil - among more than a thousand people heard - most young people say they feel very anxious about
sustainability threats (74%), and more than 6 out of 10 respondents say that sustainability is the single most important
global issue today (62%). On a societal level, the study finds young people view education about sustainability issues
(85%) and green innovations (76%) as the most important solutions in order to transition to a more sustainable society.
Within the brand's proprietary territories (Taste, Care and Wellbeing), the report revealed that when it comes to
sustainable food practices today, young Brazilians mainly seek to minimize food waste (68%) and preserve fresh food
(51%). Also according to the study, the majority of young Brazilians believe that the most sustainable approach for the
future of fashion is to take better care of clothes to last longer (87%), while they expect their future homes to give health
advice (44%), and are able to protect them from external toxins (43%).
Some of the company’s goals is to reduce CO2 emissions in its operations by 80% and reduce product use emissions
by 25% until 2025, use 50% recycled plastic in manufacturing and products by 2030, in addition to have climate neutral
impact on operations by 2030 and expand it to its entire value chain by 2050.
>> Brazilcham News
By Luan Silva, Renata Oliveira and Witan Silva Photo Credit: ABES
A
manda Ribeiro Machado, a student
from the Girls in Science project at
IFRS-Osório, was the winner of the
Brazilian stage of the Stockholm Junior
Water Prize (SJWP). Under the guid-
ance of Professor Flávia Twardowski,
Amanda secured the first place with her project
“BIOGRAPE: Innovation for Textile Effluent Treatment
Using Bacterial Cellulose from Wine”. The work stands
out for its innovative approach to treating effluents
from the textile industry by utilizing bacterial cellulose
derived from wine residue.
Finalist students, teachers, organizing committee, and sponsors at the
2023 award was held at the 32nd Congress of the Brazilian final edition of the SJWP during the 32nd Brazilian Congress of
Brazilian Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engi- Environmental and Sanitary Engineering held in Belo Horizonte, MG.
from the Jovem das Gerais Orchestra (https://orquestra- State of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte City Hall, and ben-
jovemdasgerais.org/). efactors that come together to ensure that the Brazilian
During the ceremony, the finalists presented their pro- finalists could have a significant experience.
jects through videos and answered questions from a re- The Final of the SJWP Prize, which encourages youth partici-
nowned number of panelists. Camily Pereira dos Santos and pation and promotes scientific and technological development
Laura Nedel Drebes, the runners-up of 2022 SJWP World to address water and sustainability challenges, will take place
edition, were present and shared their experiences of the on August 22nd in Stockholm. Though, Amanda’s partaking
impact of the Prize on their lives. on the international stage is already a victory for the Brazilian
The Prize in Brazil was possible thanks to our spon- Science as it inspires other young students in their pursuit of
sors CODEVASF, SCANIA, XYLEM, Instituto Iguá, SABESP sustainable and innovative solutions for the environment.Con-
and Compactor Pen Company and their support to Bra- gratulations, Amanda! Congratulations, Brazil!
zilian youth science. In addition, the efforts of partners
such as CREARS, Mulheres do Brasil Group in Stockholm,
Bandeirantes Group, Brazilian Association of Professionals
for Sustainable Development - ABRAPS, Government of the
Nordic Light 27
Sustainable Wood Construction Seminar
– Robert Schmitz – White Arkitekter
By Leandro de Melo Rocha*
W
ooden high-rise buildings have office. Completed in September 2021, the building
become a reality. So have houses the Sara Kulturhus, a space with a hotel, spa,
design projects taking on a art gallery, municipal library, auditorium with 1200
life-cycle perspective working seats and conference center.
with a no-waste principle, and Robert visited São Paulo and was at Swedcham
public spaces or even towns for a fika, where he gave a preview of the workshop
that take on the challenges of sustainable develop- that took place later at FIEP, in Curitiba.
ment for all citizens. In addition to the exhibition of 40 Swedish
Taking this into account, in March 2023, the
Woodlife Sweden project was inaugurated in
Curitiba-PR, together with FIEP - Federation of Indus-
tries of the State of Paraná and ABIMCI - Brazilian
Association of the Mechanically Processed Wood In-
dustry. The seminar entitled “The Swedish Experience
in Sustainable Wooden Construction”, was presented
by the architect Robert Schmitz, head of the company
White Arkitekter and responsible for the construction
of the Sara Cultural Center in Skellefteå, Sweden.
Sara Cultural Center (Sara Kulturhus) is a 75-meter
carbon-negative building, which was included in
the list of the largest wooden buildings in the world Much appreciated presentation by Robert Schmitz at Swedcham
through a project signed by the White Arkitekter in São Paulo on March 3.
saab.com/br
>> NBCC News
The President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö Sauli Niinistö and the President of Brazil,
arriving at the Brazilian Congress. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
T
he President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, made an official visit the understanding that peace is the most important
to Brazil in the first days of June at the invitation of Brazilian thing regarding the war in Ukraine. “I think every
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. peace effort is valuable. We think that Russia invad-
The program started on the 1st of June in Brasília. In the ed Ukraine illegally, and Ukraine deserves rightful
discussions between Niinistö and Lula, the geopolitical situ- peace. That is, a peace that Ukraine can accept”.
ation, common global challenges, and bilateral relations be- On the first day of the visit, President Niinistö’s
tween Finland and Brazil were addressed. An Aviation Services Agreement program also included discussions with the Presi-
was signed by Finnish Ambassador Johanna Karanko and Brazilian Foreign dent of the Federal Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, and
Ministry’s Secretary General Maria Laura da Rocha. the President of the Supreme Court, Rosa Weber.
At the joint press conference, Niinistö stated that the presidents shared On the 2nd of June, Niinistö visited São Paulo,
where he met with Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, and
held a speech at a business event by the Federation
of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP).
President Niinistö’s entourage included a business
delegation with representatives of various sectors.
The business program in Brasília included visits
to five federal ministries, the Brazilian National
Confederation of Industry (CNI), and Petrobrás. In
São Paulo, besides the FIESP event, the business del-
egation visited local associations and other partners.
“I believe that today’s interaction will help Brazilian
and Finnish companies to create connections and
Meeting with the Governor of São Paulo,
Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas. genuine win-win partnerships”, Niinistö stated.
Nordic Light 31
10 Finnish companies and FinnCham Brazil join
the Naval Technological cluster of
Rio de Janeiro
By Sérgio Chamone
on “Oceanopolitics” instead of the traditional
President of FinnCham Brazil / Honorary
term “Geopolitics,” highlighting the importance
Consul General of Finland
of oceans for nature, economy, and politics.
In his lecture, he recalled the significant role
of the famous “School of Sagres,” which, under
the leadership of the Portuguese King “Henry
the Navigator,” enabled navigations and the first
contemporary globalization. Commenting on the
fact that multiple civilizations of that time coexisted
in Sagres, each with their different competences, he
humorously stated that the Cluster does the same:
“(...) Why do we welcome the Finns so well? Besides
being very friendly, efficient, hardworking, with a
great reputation for honesty and, above all, bravery
(...) they bring their technological innovations!”
One of the main advantages of the Naval Cluster
in Rio de Janeiro is its strategic location, being part of
various maritime and commercial routes and housing
T
Admiral Edésio Teixeira, Emgepron’s President. approximately 70% of the Brazilian Navy, multiple na-
val companies, and renowned universities that educate
he “Event Celebrating the Affiliation of Finnish Companies competent professionals for the maritime economy.
to the Naval Technology Cluster” took place in early May The naval industry is a significant source of
at EMGEPRON (Naval Projects Management Company), employment and economic growth in the area. Ac-
located in the 1st Naval District of Rio de Janeiro. The event cording to Admiral Ilques Barbosa Junior, shipbuild-
was attended by EMGEPRON’s President, Admiral Edésio ing represents only 10 to 20% of the Total Cost of
Teixeira, the Former Commander of the Brazilian Navy,
Admiral Ilques Barbosa Junior, the Cluster President, Admiral Da Silva, From left to right, Hélio Lopes, Admiral Antônio Reginaldo
the President of FINNCHAM BRAZIL, the Honorary Consul G. Sérgio P. Lima Jr., José Antônio de Souza Batista, Jean-Pierre Ber-
nard, Márcio Virmond de Andrade, Admiral Edésio Teixeira,
Chamone, civilian and military authorities, as well as executives from Fernando Hussni , Sérgio Chamone, Ana Paula Cordeiro and
Finnish companies. Admiral Walter da Silva.
Admiral Edésio Teixeira, one of the creators of the Cluster, opened the
event by congratulating the Finnish companies for joining the Cluster,
emphasizing the potential for interaction between members and the
Cluster’s mission of economic coordination. In this regard, Admiral Edésio
mentioned the recent meeting with the then Acting President, Geraldo
Alckmin, to discuss the revival of the Naval Industry in the state of Rio de
Janeiro and regional economic development. During that meeting, two
important projects led by the Cluster were presented to the Vice President:
the Naval Industry Recovery Plan and the Naval Recycling Project, which
have great potential for income and job generation.
Next, Admiral Ilques Barbosa Junior delivered a brilliant lecture
Ownership (TCO) of a vessel, leaving an important low-probability catastrophic events, but also foster
component of services, maintenance, and decom- “White Swans,” challenging the Director of Wärtsilä,
missioning. With around 32,000 ships navigating Mario Barbosa, with the question, “What will be the
in Brazil’s direct responsibility area, there is a great fuel of the future ship?”
potential for support services to be provided to a Now, with the reinforcement of the ten Finnish
portion of these vessels. companies that have joined the cluster (in alpha-
Furthermore, the naval ecosystem, in general, betical order): Evac, ICEYE, Nokia, Pemamek, SSAB,
needs to keep up with technological advancements, Total Power, Trekking, Vaisala, Virtusolis-Frictape,
security threats, hybrid concerns, environmental is- Wartsila, and FinnCham Brazil, there are nearly 100
sues, and other impacts. As stated by Admiral Ilques, companies joining forces to boost the growth of the
we must be prepared for “Black Swans,” meaning maritime economy in Brazil!
Swedcham Nordic Light Magazine 2023 05 19.pdf 1 19/05/23 07:22
O
n April 5th, the first
“Nordic Meeting with
the Brazilian Navy”
took place at the
Naval School of Rio
de Janeiro, with the
presence of Ambassadors Johanna
Karanko and Karin Wallensteen from
Finland and Sweden, respectively,
Round table with representatives of Nordic Countries and
Consul General Anne Villefrance Brazilian Navy.
from Denmark, and Deputy Consul
General Mai Tonheim representing After the opening remarks by the Ambassadors of
Norway. Sweden and Finland on the current geopolitical situ-
The event, coordinated by the ation in Europe, Admiral Koga, Director of Strategic
Honorary Consulate General of Finland Programs of the Brazilian Navy, spoke about the
in RJ/ES, Soamar Brazil, and the De- “Strategic Programs of the Brazilian Navy.” This was
fense Committee of FinnCham Brazil, followed by the brilliant keynote speech by Admiral
brought together leaders from 50 Nordic and Brazilian companies, as well as Ilques Barbosa Junior titled “Brazil in the Current
civilian and military authorities, consuls, and maritime industry associations. Geopolitical Moment.”
According to Sérgio Chamone, Honorary Consul General of Finland and At the end of the meeting, the speakers, Am-
President of FinnCham Brazil, the main objectives of the event were to bassadors, and Consuls from the Nordic countries
strengthen friendship, research, and trade relations between the Nordic engaged in a question-and-answer session with the
countries and Brazil, between their navies and companies, with a focus on select audience, followed by a Nordic cocktail in the
the blue economy and defense. Amazônia Azul Hall.
From left to right: Admiral Humberto Caldas da Silveira, Consul Sérgio Ambassador Johanna Karanko receiving military honors.
Chamone, Ambassador Johanna Karanko, Admiral Ilques Barbosa,
Ambassador Karin Wallensteen, Admiral Celso Koga, Consul Mai Tonheim
and Consul Anja Villefrance.
O
n the last day of May the 5th, Rio de Janeiro
Governor Cláudio Castro received at Guana-
bara Palace a joint delegation of the Nordic
countries, composed of the Ambassadors of
Finland, Johanna Karanko, and Sweden, Karin
Ambassador Johanna Karanko and Governor Cláudio Castro.
Wallensteen, accompanied respectively by
their Honorary Consuls General, Sergio Chamone and Jan
Lomholdt, as well as the Consuls General of Norway, Mai
Tonheim, and Denmark, Anja Villefrance.
Governor Cláudio Castro demonstrated a deep under-
standing of the issues important to the Nordic countries, such
as equality, education, digitalization, and sustainability, while
highlighting the advancements made in the State of Rio de
Janeiro during his administration.
Cláudio Castro, who recently visited Denmark, emphasized
the importance of working with the Nordic countries in all
these areas!
The Ambassadors expressed satisfaction with the meeting
and offered their assistance in contributing to the sustainable From left to right: Consul Jan Lomholdt, Consul Sérgio Chamone, Ambassa-
dor Johanna Karanko, Governor Cláudio Castro, Ambassador Karin Wallen-
development of the State of Rio de Janeiro. steen, Consul Mai Tonheimand Consul Anja Villefrance.
O
n June 6th, Team Sweden – the Swedish Embassy
in Brazil and its Consulates, Swedcham and
Business Sweden – launched the 2023 version
of the Brazil Business Climate Survey (“BCS”).
The survey is part of a larger global assessment
which has the goal to evaluate the business
environment in 23 key markets for Swedish companies. A global
analysis of the surveyed markets will be presented in Stockholm
after the Swedish summer, providing an updated understanding
of the world’s business climate and overall conditions for Swedish
expansion worldwide.
This year in Brazil, 50 Swedish companies with local operations
participated, including different sizes, industries and time of
establishment in the country. Read below the main takeaways:
1. 86% of Swedish companies in Brazil turned profit in 2022, the a positive note, a quarter of respondents perceive the business
highest level in the series climate as positive, a considerably higher share than the one
2. 63% of companies expect to grow in Brazil this year and 62% perceiving the market as negative (16%). However, this year’s
confirmed new local investments assessment does not seem to have impacted the plans for new
3. With many market uncertainties in 2023, 57% classified Bra- investments; although on a lower level than in 2022, 62% still say
zil’s business climate as neither positive nor negative that they will be increasing local investments in the next 12 months
4. Taxes, regulation and customs continue to represent the main and 63% expect to grow sales.
challenges to business
5. Only 6% were exposed to corruption in 2022; none identified Structural challenges remain
human rights violations in their daily business When asked about the actual business conditions in Brazil, com-
6. Customer environmental awareness is on a much higher level panies once more confirmed that the market offers great access to
compared to two years ago clients, distributors, suppliers and service providers, besides having
the right work culture and business mindset. It is the structural
Business climate challenges that impair a faster growth, including the tax system
returned to intermediary
levels
More than half of the companies see
the current business scenario in Brazil
as regular, representing a deteriora-
tion over the previous result, which
was the most positive in the series –
as confirmed now, 86% were in fact
profitable in 2022. However, current
inflationary pressures and uncertain-
ties with the elected government
contributed to the new results. On
Nordic Light 39
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Modalidade CDC. Tarifa de Cadastro (R$ 1.200,00), tarifa de registro de contrato/SP (R$ 302,89) e IOF estão inclusos nas parcelas e no CET. A primeira prestação fixa com vencimento para até 30 dias da data de contratação do financiamento. Valores máximos. Sujeito
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42 JANUARY – JUNE 2023
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>> NBCC News
I
n a significant stride towards gender equality from Cândido Mendes/Ipanema, a postgraduate
and inclusive leadership, the Norwegian- degree in Financial Administration from Fundação
Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) has Getúlio Vargas/RJ, and an MBA in Finance, Auditing,
made history by electing Cristiane de Lamare
as its new President, accompanied by Larissa
and Controlling from Fundação Getúlio Vargas/SP,
Cristiane has a proven track record of success. She
NBCC
Sigiliano as Vice-President. This groundbreak- started working with prominent North American
ing moment marks the first time in NBCC illustrious multinationals, such as Pepsico & Cia and Heidrick
history that two women have occupied the pres- & Struggles, before joining Kongsberg Brasil as
tigious positions of President and Vice-President Financial Manager in 2009. In 2021, she was nomi-
concurrently, setting a remarkable precedent for the nated Country Manager of Kongsberg Brasil, and
organization. was elected President of NBCC in April 2023.
Cristiane de Lamare, with a stellar academic In expressing her gratitude for the opportunity,
and professional background, brings a wealth Cristiane stated: “I could not be more honored
of knowledge and experience to her new role as to have been elected President of NBCC. I will
President of NBCC. Holding a degree in economics endeavor all my efforts to engage people and
Nordic Light 43
>> NBCC News
continue the excellent work of past Presidents to Larissa enthusiastically expressed: “It’s a great
help organize interesting events and implement responsibility and honor to be part of the NBCC
fruitful actions. The main purpose of the entity is leadership. I hope to be able to contribute to the
to promote businesses and cooperation between continuous evolving process of the chamber. As
Brazil and Norway. I will utilize the best qualities part of the first 100% woman party, I am confident
I have acquired as a woman in my professional that we will write an important chapter in NBCC’s
path, including good communication, courage, successful history, showcasing women’s recognized
and generosity, to implement a very participative leadership skills such as empathy and resilience.”
management.” With the dynamic duo of Cristiane de Lamare
Larissa Sigiliano, with more than 16 years of and Larissa Sigiliano at the helm, NBCC enters a
experience in the Brazilian O&G business indus- new era of progress and collaboration. The chamber
try, has played a pivotal role in vessel chartering, is confident that their combined expertise, unwaver-
specializing in drilling rigs and FPSOs. Currently ing dedication, and passion for strengthening the
serving General Manager of BW Offshore in Brazil, ties between Brazil and Norway will pave the way
Larissa brings a wealth of expertise to her new role. for continued success.
Her academic qualifications include a graduation in The election of Cristiane de Lamare and Larissa
Civil Engineering from Universidade Federal de Juiz Sigiliano as President and Vice-President of NBCC
de Fora/MG and a Petroleum Engineering degree is a testament to the organization’s commitment
from PUC-RJ. Moreover, she holds a Master’s degree to gender equality and inclusion, and a recognition
in Environmental Engineering from Universidade do of exceptional talent in its leadership positions. It
Porto/Portugal, along with MBAs in Projects Man- sends a powerful message of empowerment and
agement from IBMEC and Business Management gender equality, inspiring future generations of
from Fundação Dom Cabral. leaders to break barriers.
New Members
Meet our new corporate members
D
Brazilian Internal Revenue Service is that decommis-
ecommissioning is the last phase of the exploration and sioning cannot be supported by the main tax and
production cycle of oil and gas quarries. According to state- customs regime REPETRO-SPED, because it is the
ments from Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás e Biocom- final stage in the exploration process.
bustíveis – ANP in 2018, Brazil has over 122 structures However, with the significant improvements
involved in offshore production in a wide range and depth, brough by Resolution ANP 817/2020, that clarifies
which requires regulation, investments in appropriate once and for all that decommissioning is, in fact, a
technology, and human resources to deactivate such fields followed by the part of the cycle of activities surrounding oil and gas
correct disposal of the remaining assets. quarries, there is hope for a more positive scenario
According to Caderno Descomissionamento Offshore no Brasil – Opor- from the tax and customs perspective.
tunidades, Desafios & Soluções, edited by FGV Energia and ANP, the plan- In conclusion, Brazilian IRS shall review in-
ning of offshore projects estimates the lifespan of the field and equipment ternally their position as to the assets that are
at “around 20 to 25 years”. imported as vessels to operate decommissioning of
Thus, at the end of the cycle the operator must adopt a series of meas- offshore oil fields, and better define the timespan
ures to deactivate the field, remove all unnatural installations, abandon and legislation under which the decommissioning
permanently or temporarily the oil wells, correctly dispose of the residues operations can be carried out in Brazilian jurisdic-
and waste originated from the decommissioning, so to reduce any poten- tional waters.
tial harm to the environment. The expectation is that the issues that are being
In the maritime environment the decommissioning process is divided informed to the Brazilian IRS be heard and solved,
into three major activities: i) the platform; ii) submarine equipment; and iii) so that decommissioning operations can be officially
oil wells. considered as stage of REPETRO-SPED.
Regarding the first group – platforms – there are currently 40 of them
that are over 25 years old, which represents 33% of all platforms operat- 1
Fonte: ANP – DSO – janeiro de 2021.
Nordic Light 45
Altera: Commitment a global market, not limited to size or geographi-
cal location. CCS solutions, which offer a way to
permanently remove emitted carbon from the
A
climate goals.
ltera Infrastructure is a leading provider of critical Stella Maris CCS is developing a large-scale,
infrastructure assets to the offshore energy industry. flexible, and scalable maritime logistics solution
As the world’s demand for energy continues to grow, for collecting and storing CO2 from industrial
Altera’s fleets play a crucial role in enabling the sources. The project is expected to handle large-
extraction and transportation of hydrocarbons used scale volumes of more than 10 metric tonnes
to generate electricity, fuel transportation, and power per annum (mtpa) of CO2. Altera has positioned
industry. However, Altera recognizes that sustainability is key to its itself as one of the early movers on large-scale
long-term success and is committed to supporting the energy transi- commercial CCS.
tion towards renewable energy sources to reduce emissions and In March 2023, after nearly two years of
mitigate the effects of climate change. work, Altera and Wintershall Dea were awarded
The company’s overall value chain comprises a large network of an exploration license by the Norwegian Minis-
suppliers, service providers, business partners, and other third parties. Its try of Petroleum and Energy to store CO2 in the
customer portfolio includes very large players of the Energy sector such Havstjerne reservoir in the North Sea. The Havs-
as Petrobras, Equinor, Shell, Total, among others. Companies who are tjerne reservoir is optimal for the Stella Maris
also aligned with the vision of developing a more sustainable future concept, with a large capacity, low risk for CO2
In 2022, Altera named a new EVP New Ventures, anchoring this cor- leakage, and containing no existing or aban-
porate unit with executive leadership. Altera is actively pursuing wind doned production wells, making it ideal for safe
services, ammonia shipping, and carbon capture and storage (CCS). and permanent storage of CO2. The Havstjerne
With its commitment to sustainability and its innovative approach license is the fifth CO2 storage license awarded
to meeting global energy demands, Altera is leading the world to a in Norway. With the storage license in place,
sustainable future. Altera is ready to develop and realize a large-
Through its New Ventures corporate unit, Altera is incubating new scale integrated CO2 infrastructure solution to
potential business models aligned with the energy transition. One of its customers across Europe.
most developed new venture opportunities is Stella Maris CCS, which
aims to provide cost-efficient floating CCS infrastructure solutions for Learn more on our website: https://alterainfra.com/
Morro do Cruzeiro
Also in Bahia, the company is initiating the
construction of Morro do Cruzeiro, a greenfield
wind complex located near the wind power assets
of Statkraft, already present in the region. The
O
complex will include two wind power projects,
ne of the world’s main and most competitive markets with 14 turbines and an installed capacity of 79,8
of renewable energy, the lands and winds of Brazil MW. Because of the optimal wind conditions in
registered positive results for Global Statkraft in 2022. the region, the complex is aiming to generate
The recurring EBITDA from 2022 reached R$421 million, 386 GWh of renewable energy a year, enough to
increasing 68% when compared to the same period provide power for more than 190,000 households.
of 2021. These numbers represent a general growth of The construction of the wind complex is part of
16% and were 10% higher than expected. the strategy for growth of Statkraft in Brazil.
Currently, Statkraft Brazil has 18 assets in the country, in six different
states, representing around 450 megawatts (MV) of installed capacity, Growth
and is finishing its biggest project outside of Europe: Ventos de Santa The Brazilian unit has big expectations for
Eugênia Wind Complex, located in Bahia, Northeast region of Brazil. growth. According to Paula Suanno, VP of Busi-
The generation of renewable energy of the complex is expected to ness Development and Regulatory Affairs, the
reach 2,300 gigawatt hours (GWh) each year, enough to provide power country has been preparing. “Since 2019, we have
for 1,17 million Brazilian households. With an area of 489,18 hectares, positioned ourselves to develop and make our
the complex will have 14 wind farms, totaling 91 wind turbines with pipelines viable. We want to contribute robustly to
5,7 megawatts of power each. Throughout its development, the project Global’s growth, focusing on investment in new
created around 2,000 indirect and direct jobs. Although construction is businesses, such as our upcoming solar energy
in its final stage, the complex, which received an investment of R$2,8 projects.” the executive points out.
Nordic Light 47
New Technologies and the future
of Immigration
By Diana Quintas & Diogo Kloper*
I
a bold immigration policy can be a decisive factor in
mmigration is an area of the economy that receives little attention, talent acquisition and retention. We have no way
but it is where many businesses start and through which everything of predicting where technology might end up in the
passes. It is also the gateway to a country’s technological innovation. coming years but, from what we have observed so
This was the case with the evolution of passports, the implementation far, we can expect digital and faster immigration
of bar codes and, more recently, electronic chips. Visas, which used to processes. It is up to immigration companies to
follow traditional legal procedures with lots of paperwork, are now create tools that help their clients manage people in
largely and, in some cases, completely electronic with several steps of the new working models.
process being virtual. There is a human factor in interpreting laws and
Technology is also where we notice that the most disruptive advances deciding immigration issues that artificial intel-
require the human element in operation to enhance and meet bolder ligence is unable to judge, but purely bureaucratic
purposes. In immigration, the choice of an appropriate visa depends on a processes will change at a rapid pace. Companies
legal interpretation that artificial intelligence is unable to develop. that are able to offer significant digital capabilities
For example, when we think about work visas there are many of them, while having highly skilled professionals in customer
and a same professional may fit into some, with the decision depending relations will stand out. The alliance between the
on determining factors on a case-by-case basis. Understanding technology best technology and the best people is, no doubt,
as an ally in this transformation may be the key to opening new markets. the best preparation and adaptation for the future.
With hybrid or fully remote models and a culture of digital nomadism on
the rise, technology will allow people to work and travel more frequently.
Digital resources have already changed the migration landscape in the *Diana Quintas is Partner at Fragomen and
corporate universe. The volume of processes that a medium or large com- Diogo Kloper is Director at Fragomen in Brazil.
pany needs to manage does not make control by traditional spreadsheets
www.investorab.com
Oil States Brasil awarded
a new contract by Petrobras Cláudia Monte, Business
Development Manager
C
ompany has been growing exponentially in the Brazilian challenge that waits for us.
market with several long-term contracts with Petrobras and Customer focus, Resilience,
important players in the Energy sector. Safety, Excellence, and At-
Oil States Brasil won another important contract with tention to details are our fundamental pillars for this
Petrobras covering Maintenance services (with supply of project success.”
parts and spares), Storage and Preservation of equipment Oil States has been operating in the Energy
and tools designated to drilling and well safety and lifting, including BOPS, Market for 80 years and has been established in
Valves, Catarina, Pump Mud, Swivel, Hooks, etc. Brazil for 22 years. This year the company has won 2
This new 3 years contract emphasizes the expertise in equipment main- Spotlight on New Technology Awards at OTC-2023
tenance, with a highly qualified team, physical structure with huge capac- for FTLP™️ Floating Wind Platform from OSIRenew-
ity, vast knowledge of the scope of work and tooling to be used and the ables™️, an Oil States enterprise, and for Oil States
operational excellence that makes Oil States Brasil an important partner to Active Seat Gate Valve. Oil States has also been
overcome challenges, whether onshore or offshore. recognized by National Ocean Industries Association
According to Marcos Pontes, Services Base Manager at Oil States Brasil: – NOIA, as the 2023 winner of the Culture of Safety
“This achievement further consolidates Oil States Brasil’s capacity to absorb Award, recognizing Oil States efforts to integrate
other contracts like this one, with important players in the Oil & Gas and En- safety as a central element of the culture across
ergy segments. Our technical capacity is proportional to the size of the great company´s global operations.
DIGITAL
DRILLER™
APRENDA A
QUALQUER HORA,
EM QUALQUER LUGAR
Uma solução flexível para treinamento
seguro de operação nos equipamentos
de perfuração para mineração e
abertura de túneis.
ROCKTECHNOLOGY.SANDVIK
50 JULY – DECEMBER 2022
Setting up a company in Brazil
requires attention from foreign investors
Despite the country’s more favorable scenario, Investors should decide upon a few aspects in
investors should plan their operations mindful advance, such as the National Classification of Busi-
of the business structure and registration ness Activities (CNAE), which defines the entity’s
business segment. The proper classification affects
By Marluci Azevedo* the company’s tax treatment, something that is also
crucial for its viability and competitiveness.
Companies that receive foreign investment must
B
also appoint an attorney-in-fact, who may also be a
razil has put measures in place to become more attractive towards manager, director and/or legal representative. To be
foreign investors. This ranges from simplifying business registration appointed, one must be a resident in Brazil, enjoy
procedures to aligning its standards with those of the Organiza- Brazilian citizenship (whether from birth or naturali-
tion for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) zation) or be a foreign citizen with a permanent visa
In January 2023, USD 6.9 billion in Foreign Direct Invest- and residency in Brazil.
ment entered Brazil according to the Central Bank. This is the
largest capital inflow for the month in the last five years, a 34.7% increase Foreign Investment
compared to January 2022. This shows that, from an international stand- Brazilian companies can receive foreign invest-
point, the country is becoming more business friendly. ment from both non-resident individuals and entities
Nevertheless, Brazil is still a unique environment, and investors should not based in Brazil, with only a few exceptions and
rely on local support when planning their entry into the country. Find out a restrictions for certain segments.
few important points to it: It should be noted that all capital inflows must
be registered before the Central Bank. Furthermore,
Business structure depending on the volume and characteristics of the
One of the first steps concerns corporate planning. The investment, periodic statements must be filed with
company’s goals, the rights and responsibilities of its part- the authority.
ners, its subscribed capital, among other legal, accounting Investments can be made by means of business
and tax aspects should be kept in mind. formation or expansion, mergers and acquisitions,
There are many entity types in Brazil, corporations reinvestment of profits from overseas operations,
(‘Sociedade Anônima’) and limited-liability compa- among other ways.
nies (‘Sociedade Limitada’) being the most widely
adopted by larger companies. From the early stages to compliance
Domingues e Pinho Contadores has been assist-
Registration ing foreign companies in establishing their busi-
To be allowed to operate, companies must nesses in Brazil, from the planning and setup stages
perform several registrations, records, and all the way to full tax and labor compliance.
enrollments, in addition to obtaining permits
and licenses.
Compliance must be met with govern-
ment authorities at the federal, state, and
local levels, according to the business
activity. Keep in mind that all these steps *Marluci Azevedo is a partner at Domingues e
should take into consideration the com- Pinho Contadores
pany’s strategic planning.
Nordic Light 51
Greener than ever
By Claudio Martins*
T
he world is changing, and so does Brazil. Notably known by their importation authorized through the granting
its clean energy, over the last few years the country has been of the Import License (IL), prior to shipment in the
embracing new solutions with less social / environmental exporter’s country.
impact aiming to maintain its key role on this aspect, and On the other hand, despite the bureaucracy neces-
fully aware of this paradigm shift, FMC Logística & Aduaneira sary to guarantee consumer safety, the good news is
has been over the years playing a key role in import/export that the Brazilian government is a great encourager to
into Brazilian Customs Clearance for projects in this industry. import these products, through tariff exceptions.
However, one of the barriers to the greater diffusion of this technol- The Ex-Tarifário, as its name indicates, are
ogy has still been the high cost involved in its acquisition/installation and exceptions to the general rules, that is, it is a tax
importation, which is natural considering that it is a recent technology. regime directed to treat exceptions to the applica-
Among several measures adopted by the country to circumvent tion of taxes on the importation of some specific
these problems, we highlight the Support Program for the Technological products, according to the intention of the gov-
Development of the Semiconductor Industry (Padis) that was recently ernment to encourage or not certain sectors and
extended until December 31, 2026 by the Brazilian Government. segments of the economy and industry.
PADIS basically exempts from federal taxes parts and equipment Currently, the zero-tax policy on the import
used in the manufacture of solar panels, making this program an im- of photovoltaic panels that are inserted in the
portant incentive to produce solar panels in Brazil. EX-TARIFÁRIO is in force, that is, the rate that was
However, despite its importance, the reality is that the country, due previously around 12% for solar modules and 14%
to its undeveloped industry, is still extremely dependent on imports to among inverters, is zeroed.
meet its domestic demand. In addition to this regime, there are others also
Nevertheless, although necessary, the import faces other regulatory chal- as important as, which, depending on the project
lenges that must be evaluated and structured by experienced professionals. to be conducted, may be applicable, such as draw-
We can point for example the correct tax classification of the goods, back, customs warehouse, temporary admission,
and the NCM/HS is basically composed of standard codes applied all over among others, which guarantee various tax and
the world to (i) facilitate trade negotiations, (ii) growth of trade in the customs benefits.Thus, there is no doubt that there
world and (iii) that the procedures are uniform regardless of the country. is a wide range of tax / customs regimes available,
Thus, for imports, it is necessary to make the correct fiscal classifica- however, having specialized advice will always be
tion of goods based on the NCM, which is reflected in more or less the difference between, on the one hand, evalu-
favored taxation, use of tax and tariff incentives and prevention of ating the best option, adopting the necessary
delays or application of fines and sanctions. customs compliance and maximizing your return
Another important regulatory issue to be observed is that any im- on the project and, on the other, being surprised by
ported photovoltaic panel must be previously approved by the National losses and delays.
Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) – Regulatory
Agency, which, through the Brazilian Labeling Program (PBE), estab-
*Claudio Martins is Commercial Director at
lishes the performance and safety requirements of the products.
FMC Logística & Aduaneira
Only products duly approved by INMETRO and that are in the PBE have
Platinum Members
GOLD MEMBERS
>> Swedcham News
Networking Lunch at
Tuy Cocina in Jardins
Swedcham hosted two networking lunches this semester at res-
taurant Tuy Cocina in Jardins, São Paulo. Both lunches welcomed
members and non-members, providing valuable opportunities for
professionals to connect and foster meaningful business relation-
ships. The event offered engaging discussions and the exchange of
ideas and business cards promoted fruitful connections among at-
tendees. Swedcham extends its sincere appreciation to restaurant
Tuy Cocina and all attendees for their contributions to the success!
Improviso Consciente - implications for the labour market. The audience gained
valuable insights and explored how its progressive ap-
Journalist Glória Vanique proach can reshape the future of work.
progress has been slow, prompting the need for internal skill
development. Internal Development Goals (IDGs) emerged
as a model with five pillars and 23 competencies to enhance
Nordic Light 55
>> Swedcham News
Swedish Committee on
Finance visit to Scania
The Committee on Finance is one of 15 parliamentary committees
with the task of ensuring that all items of parliamentary business
are considered thoroughly before any decisions are taken.
The Finance Committee has overall responsibility for the “Riks- Christopher Podgorski, president & CEO Scania Latin America received
the Committee at the Scania plant in São Bernardo on May 17. Some
dag’s” work with the state budget. How much money should the of the participants were the Committee Chairman Edward Riedl -
state spend on different areas such as the labor market, edu- The Moderate Party, Committee Vice-Chairman Mikael Damberg
cation and health care? What direction should economic policy - The Social Democratic Party, Sten Engdahl, the Swedish Embassy,
Swedcham´s Jonas Lindström and Business Sweden´s Andreas Rentner.
have? The Committee also deals with questions about monetary
policy and the financial market. sentatives from the parliaments and governments as well as
In May the Committee visited Brasilia, São Paulo and Buenos the central banks in the countries. In Brazil, the committee
Aires. The purpose of the trip was to study the economic devel- met representatives of the World Bank and in Argentina rep-
opment in Brazil and Argentina and what structural challenges resentatives of the IMF. Digitization and economic challenges
they have and how to deal with them. The committee met repre- for the regional level were also on the agenda.
LAAD, the Defense & Security trade fair in Rio, was arranged again after the break during the pandemic. As in previous
years Business Sweden, in close collaboration with the Embassy, set up a Swedish pavilion.
Sweden continues to prove itself as a leading actor within the defense and security sector, providing advanced and inno-
vative products and solutions, as well as attractiveness to team up with strategic partnerships - with reference e.g. to the
MoU/partnership agreement announced between Saab and Embraer at LAAD this year. Well done.
The exhibitors in the Swedish pavilion included Life cycle management company Systecon, acoustical scoring system com-
pany Air Target and information (cyber) security company Comex Electronics.
The pavilion also served as a kind of base camp for the Swedish of-
ficial delegation, which was headed by State Secretary Peter Sandwall
at the Ministry for Defense. The official delegation’s presence at LAAD
was as always much appreciated by all the Swedish exhibitors, as it
further strengthens and support the Swedish industry dialogues and
network.
Many meetings were held during the trade fair, both with other of-
ficial delegations as well as potential clients and partners. LAAD has
yet again proven to offer high quality visitors, and will continue to
serve as a good meeting place for the Swedish defense industry to
develop new business opportunities. I dare to say that Sweden will be
back at LAAD also next time, in 2025.
Nordic Light 57
New Members Swedcham wishes to welcome the following new members:
CORPORATE MEMBERS People plus in their fields. Given the highly focused and
Criada por Marcelo Reis e Giovane Gávio, a detailed-oriented origination of receivables
People+ iniciou a sua jornada em 2021. and operational diligence the credits losses
Alehsi & Partners A empresa une a força do mundo corpo- in the SCF portfolio are less than 50 bps.
ALEHSI & Partners é uma assessoria rativo com o esporte de alto rendimento e
que traz soluções personalizadas para o trabalha com uma metodologia única que Telos Transition Consultoria Ltda
desenvolvimento de empresas estrangeiras vem maximizando os resultados de seus cli- Pioneiro em Interim Management na
no Brasil. entes de maneira constante e comprovada. America Latina. Parceiro local da Nordic
Nossos serviços incluem desde a abertura, Oferecemos treinamentos customizados, Interim (Valtus).
o estabelecimento, a representação legal palestras, mentorias individuais ou em Interim Management consiste em engajar
até a gestão administrativa da filial. Se grupos, entre outros. profissionais experientes e qualificados
necessário, também auxiliamos na reestru- para desempenhar funções executivas
turação da subsidiária. em modo projeto em organizações, nas
Persson Innovation posições C-level e gerência sênior para
Persson Innovation was founded in 1982 by administrar situações de transição como,
Morata, Galafassi, Nakaharada Sune Johansson and Olof Persson, estab- reorganizações, reestruturações, preparação
e Serpa Advogados (Mga) lishing a manufacturing facility in Kumla, de aquisições e vendas de empresas, inte-
Morata, Galafassi, Nakaharada e Serpa Sweden. Two years later the company grações, gestão de crises, transformação
Advogados (MGA) is a law firm offering moved to another site and that factory digital ou substituições temporárias.
high-quality legal services and providing remains in use today.
each of its clients personal and customized The handles and applicator machines have
assistance. The direct involvement of its always been d esigned, refined and devel- Vermiculus Financial Technology
partners in each phase of the services pro- oped in-house, with the primary We deliver business critical systems to the
vided by MGA is the distinguishing mark focus on the handles. Since the beginning, major exchanges and Clearinghouses globally.
of this law firm, which also has a team of we have been operating globally, initially B3 is one of our customers.
professionals with established experience in Europe and then expanding to the USA,
in their specific areas of expertise. Latin America and Southeast Asia. Wordloc Translation &
Localization
Oliveira Paolucci Advogados Primagold A Wordloc é uma agência especializada em
Somos um escritório de advocacia formado Somos uma empresa de joias no atacado, que traduções técnicas, médicas e de market-
por profissionais altamente qualificados teve seu início no interior de São Paulo – SP e ing para o português, inglês e espanhol
e com extensa experiência no mercado devido a demanda e ao crescimento, decidimos da América Latina, entre outros idiomas.
nacional e internacional. Com histórico abrir uma filial na cidade de São Paulo – SP. Também oferecemos serviços de editoração
de sucesso comprovado nas áreas em eletrônica e traduções juramentadas.
que atuamos, incorporamos o inalienável Numéro Brasil
compromisso com a ética aos interesses de Revista no seguimento de luxo, com foco Zimpler
nossos clientes na busca das melhores e em moda, beleza, arte e cultura. Zimpler’s extensive bank network allows
mais seguras soluções jurídicas. us to collect funds in real-time for instant
SCF Brazil Consultoria de Pay-ins and Payouts locally and regionally
Omtare as well as settle cross-border and intercon-
Credito E Participacoes Ltda. tinentally without delay. Merchants have
Omtare é uma consultoria de treinamen- SCF Brazil was established in early 2016
tos e desenvolvimento inovadora para instant access to funds and don’t need
focusing on the generation of high-quality to worry about manual reconciliation of
apoiar e equipar líderes e organizações a receivables where the Payors are well-
liderar os futuros emergentes e co-criar transaction data.
established Brazilian companies. After a
um futuro melhor. Acreditamos que os legislation change in 2018 and intensive
líderes e as organizações tem uma oportu- systems-development, SCF added loans
nidade e responsabilidade para contribuir INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
to individuals as well as government
no trabalho para todos alcançarmos os receivables to the portfolio. Presently 18 • Edison Feghali
SDG´s e desenvolvemos treinamentos professionals are employed in São Paulo. • Fernanda Gabriel
customizados e práticos para acelerar este The leading investment professionals and • Maria Emilia Leme
trabalho. systems specialists are all seasoned experts • Renato Wanhfried Ferrari
Nordic Light 61
>> Member News
Nordic Light 63
>> Young Professionals
B
uilding Bridges of Opportunity: Swedcham’s Young Professional provoking discussions about various aspects of
Network Connects Talent, Companies, and Cultures in Brazil. business management, career trajectories and
The Young Professionals Network (YP) at Swedcham the differences between working in Sweden and
connects students, young professionals, and Swedish compa- Brazil.
nies in Brazil. This network is essential as it provides young June 14th marked an exciting occasion for the
professionals with career opportunities, professional growth, YP network as the network and the Sweden Alumni
knowledge sharing, and a platform for cultural exchange between Swedes Network in Brazil were invited to the SKF factory in Ca-
and Brazilians in the network. jamar, São Paulo for a company visit. The visit provided
In today’s interconnected world, networking plays a crucial role in attendees with the chance to get a behind-the-scenes
advancing one’s career. Recognizing this need, the YP network continues look at SKF’s operations, offering a first-hand under-
to create events to facilitate a positive networking environment. Together standing of the company’s innovative approaches and
with the Swedish Institutes’ Sweden Alumni Network Brazil, the Swed- technological advancements. Thank you SKF!
cham YP network has been able to create multiple partnered events such Continuing the journey of fostering a platform
as happy hours as well as formal events such as a Business Panel with Olle for networking, professional and personal growth,
Widén (CEO and Co-Founder of FinanZero) and Ìcaro da Silva (Director of and knowledge sharing, the Swedcham Mentorship
Intellectual Property at Ericsson). The business panel gave young profes- Program was initiated at the beginning of 2023.
sionals and Brazilian alumni from Swedish universities the chance to This program was designed to create valuable con-
learn from Olle and Ìcaro who are pioneers in their industries. Olle Widén nections, foster professional development, and offer
was present at the chamber in São Paulo, and Ìcaro da Silva joined the benefits for both young professionals and experi-
event online from Stockholm, Sweden. The event prompted thought- enced mentors. The Swedcham Mentorship Program
kicked off on the 16th of February with 29 mentor- baby during the mentorship process. This mentee showed perseverance,
ship pairs. Four months later, on the 15th of June, determination, and resilience to successfully conclude the mentoring - an
the Mentorship Graduation took place to celebrate achievement to be recognized! The celebration concluded with a spirited
and evaluate the program together. cocktail reception, where jubilant conversations and connections blos-
The mentorship program graduation was a somed, laying the foundations for future collaborations.
meaningful occasion, filled with inspiration and
achievement. The atmosphere was full of anticipation
as participants gathered to celebrate their remark-
able journeys. Attendees were invited to evaluate A thank you note
the program, sharing their invaluable insights and
experiences, igniting a collective spark of innova- from Miranda Okello
tion. As the evening unfolded, the most innovative
couple was honoured with a prize, recognizing their As I transition back to Sweden, I carry with me treasured memo-
exceptional contributions and innovative mindset. The ries of our shared experiences, the friendships formed, and the
pinnacle of the event was the heartfelt distribution of knowledge gained. Swedcham and the YP network hold a special
diplomas, symbolizing the culmination of their trans- place in my heart, and I have full confidence in the networks’ con-
formative mentorship experience. The celebration tinued success under new leadership. The vibrant platform that has
continued with a raffle of different prizes as well as been constructed has empowered young professionals to flourish,
a special gift Swedcham bestowed on a remarkable facilitating connections that transcend borders.
mentee who received the news she was expecting a I would like to express my profound gratitude to the Swedcham
team and the entire community for their unwavering support and ded-
ication. Our collective efforts have yielded something truly remarkable,
and it has been an immense honour for
me to contribute to its accomplishments.
I am sincerely grateful for the invaluable
experiences and opportunities that have
made this journey in Brazil possible.
Thank you for granting me the privi-
lege of being a part of this remarkable
endeavour.
Nordic Light 65
66 JANUARY – JUNE 2023
>>Innovation & Sustainability Committee
W
cles. Data such as road topography, traffic patterns,
e are all aware of the climate congestion, charging infrastructure, electrical grid
crisis. Climate change has utilization and vehicle position will be collected
become one of the greatest and analyzed, generating efficiencies and less
threats to human well-being emissions.
and planetary health. It is a Mining is another example of a sector where
defining issue of our times! remote control and haptic feedback over 5G
Therefore, accelerating reduction of emissions is can start to be used to control heavy machinery,
fundamental to achieve decarbonization of our improving safety for workers, and making the
global economy. In this context, Digitalization is operation more sustainable.
a powerful enabler to accelerate this important The call to action on climate change is there.
transition towards a Net Zero future. True that it has advanced over recent years, as
During the UN Climate Change Conference the world is facing more pressure to execute a
(COP21) in Paris, 2015, 196 world leaders adopted meaningful net-zero journey. But real climate ac-
the Paris Agreement, committing that the warm- tion can only be achieved by working together to
ing of the earth must be limited to well below 2°C accelerate it. And digitalization is certainly key in
increase and ideally not more than 1.5°C above this process.
pre-industrial levels. To reach it, according to the
agreement, the world needs to at least halve glob-
al greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and *Maria Cristina Sellmann is SCR Program
become Net Zero before 2050. That will require the manager for Europe & Latin America at Ericsson
transformation of global economies and societies. and a contributor of Swedcham’s Innovation &
Digital technology plays a pivotal role in this Sustainability Committee.
transformation. Research has shown that it has the
Scania’s participation in the Innovation and Sustainablity Committee presenting their net-zero journey.
S
wedcham’s Innovation and Sustainability Committee started
its 2023 meetings focusing on two very important subjects in
the ESG agenda: the net-zero journey and circular economy.
The relevance of these two issues is directly linked to a
broader goal: the need to decarbonize the world’s economy.
For companies, this means reassessing strategies, seeking new
business models and investing in technology. It mainly involves changing
Mirow & Co.’s Fernando Fabbris presenting a study on
practices that are highly dependent on fossil fuels and extensive energy corporate net-zero journey.
and land exploitation and focusing on regenerative models. Facing the
challenge of growing without polluting requires changing mindsets.
Content that deserves attention from companies in different sectors, ent with reaching global net-zero emissions or at a
and a mandatory approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions are the sector level in eligible 1.5°C-aligned pathways; and
Science Based Targets (SBTis) (https://sciencebasedtargets.org) (https:// • Permanently neutralizing any residual emissions at
sciencebasedtargets.org/resources/files/Net-Zero-Standard.pdf). the net-zero target year and any GHG emissions
Science Based Targets are a guide. They present criteria and recom- released into the atmosphere thereafter.
mendations to support organizations in defining net-zero objectives To reach such targets, companies need to have
that can later be validated by the SBTi itself. The SBTis approach also an understanding of their greenhouse gas emis-
suggests that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory should follow sions and define business models based on these
the GHG Protocol (https://ghgprotocol.org), another relevant document findings. Thus, they can plan and implement more
in the net-zero journey. robust reduction and removal actions. Although
Although the SBTi’s are primarily aimed at companies with more than a wide range of actions is needed to reduce GHG
500 employees, their strategies do not fail to target smaller companies emissions, understanding SBTis scope defines basic
(SMEs) in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These smaller important steps for the world to advance towards a
organizations should use SBTi’s guide to understand the key elements low-carbon economy.
of a science-based net-zero target and the recommended target-setting
process. The SBTi offers a simplified route for SMEs to set net-zero *Karin Vecchiatti has a degree in Agronomy and
targets. For large or smaller organizations, the main objective is to offer Ph.D. in Communication, focusing on environmental,
a standardized and robust approach for companies to establish net-zero social responsibility and ESG strategies. She
targets aligned with climate science. currently coordinates Swedcham’s Innovation and
The SBTi Net-Zero Standard defines corporate net-zero as: Sustainability Committee.
• Reducing scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions to zero or a residual level consist-
Nordic Light 69
>> Legal Framework for Business Development
O
n March 29th, Swedcham’s Legal and Business Committee
held its first 2023 event on the Transfer Prices and OECD
Convergence. The speaker was Dr. Roberto Codorniz Leite
Pereira. He is a Professor of the Professional Master’s
Program in International Taxation and Development of
the Brazilian Institute of Tax Law (IBDT). He is a Ph.D. in
Economic, Financial and Tax from the University of São Paulo Law School
FDUSP and also a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Tax Law) from
the Vienna University (WU) as well as Partner of Maneira Advogados.
Renato Pacheco, Roberto Codorniz Leite Pereira and
According to Roberto, transfer price regulations in Brazil have historically colleagues from Maneira Advogados.
reflected traditional parameters that deviated from the arm’s length stand-
ard. This fixed model focused on the application of fixed margins to ensure
practicability and legal certainty. However, given that digital economy has a (8) the application to intangibles in general.
strong reliance on intangibles and the loopholes exploited by taxpayers, the Furthermore, the new regulation provides for
OECD recommended that Brazilian Transfer Pricing rules were revisited. the ‘best method approach’ to determine the arm’s
In this context, after years of joint work with the OECD tax officials, it length methods, taking into consideration the delin-
was published the Provisional Measure n. 1.152/2022, recently converted eated controlled transaction and the comparability
into Federal Law n. 14.596/23 whose main purpose was to provide for a analysis with transactions contracted with unrelated
full convergence of Brazilian Transfer Pricing Rules with the transfer pricing parties. According to the previous regulation on
guidelines from the OECD. transfer pricing, where the ‘best method rule’ was
In a nutshell, the new transfer pricing regulation includes: (1) a state- not applicable, taxpayers were entitled to choose
ment providing that the arm’s length is the guiding principle in transfer among the traditional methods with predetermined
pricing analysis; (2) a broader concept for related parties – covering situa- margins the one with the best outcome (i.e., the
tions where one party is under the ‘directly or indirectly exerted influence’; least burdensome). This is also a remarkable change
(3) the delineation of transactions aimed to identify the economic and in Brazilian transfer pricing legislation.
financial relations among the Professor Roberto Codorniz also had the
tested parties as well as the eco- opportunity to answer questions from the Swed-
nomically relevant characteristics ish company members attending the event and
of the controlled transaction; (4) contributed to enhance Swedcham membership
specific provisions for commodi- exchange of best practices and knowledge sharing.
ties; (5) specific provisions for in- Thank you, Roberto!
tragroup cost sharing and service
agreements; (6) the application Renato Pacheco Neto, LL.M - the
of transfer pricing rules on busi- Coordinator of Swedcham’s Legal and
ness restructuring; (7) the appli- Business Committee and Hon. Consul
cation of transfer pricing rules to General of Sweden since 2012. He is also the
financial transactions in general; Managing Partner of PNST – Pacheco Neto,
Sanden, Teisseire law firm in SP.
Dr. Roberto Codorniz Leite Pereira
D
ione went through her personal challenges to reach and
graduate from law school at FGV Rio and her willingness to
create opportunities to her pears having almost no access to
enter and develop their legal careers.
Following her presentation, we had a chance to de-
bate with Atlas Copco Legal Manager Cyntia Peluso, also
member of Swedcham’s Fiscal Council, Juliana Meyer, Swedcham’s Legal
Director and Honorary Consul of Norway, Carol Böttcher, Coordinator of
the Human Capital Committee and Renato Pacheco, Coordinator of the It was an honor to host Dione Assis and hear
Legal Committee and Consul General of Sweden. about the BSL and her involvement with racial issues.
Many company members representatives actively attended the event Knowing that black professionals are still under-
both in place but also virtually. This enabled a very deep exchange on race represented in the job market is unacceptable and
and gender diversity besides clearly sharing a fantastic and challenging we have no doubt that companies must change this
experience by Dione Assis. scenario, fighting against racism more effectively.
Nordic Light 71
>> Marketing & Communication Committee
W
e have been using artificial intelligence (AI) in our
daily lives for many years, in everyday actions such
as asking Alexa about the weather forecast, using
Waze to find the fastest route, or searching for
restaurant reviews. But what caused such a stir
with the arrival of ChatGPT in November 2022?
Felipe Bógea, an entrepreneur and professor specialized in corporate
communication, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence, was at the
Swedish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in May to explain how AI is
evolving and changing our daily lives.
Felipe explains that the major transformation with the arrival of
ChatGPT was Generative AI, a subset within AI. ChatGPT is a language
model developed based on the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)
architecture, trained on a large amount of text to learn how to generate
relevant responses in dialogues based on a provided context.
It is disruptive, according to Felipe, for three main reasons: “First,
because it is widely accessible, second, because it solves real everyday
problems, and third, because it has a low cost.”
As a conversational model, ChatGPT was designed to answer ques-
tions, provide information, perform specific tasks, and engage in natural
and useful interactions with users. The use of generative AI opens up pedites the initial part, which needs to be refined
possibilities for creating new data, images, sounds, texts, or other types later. For example, translations can be done at
of information that can greatly facilitate daily life in various situations. a high speed and at no cost, with only a human
Due to its high development cost, there will be few players in this review afterward. It is understood that some pro-
arena, such as OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, according to Felipe. We fessions will disappear while others will emerge.
are witnessing a new wave of transformative innovation. Bill Gates’ The topic of AI is still highly controversial. Ethi-
words summarize this well: “The development of AI is as fundamental cal discussions about mass unemployment are
as the creation of the microprocessor, personal computer, internet, and crucial. The regulation of policies for data protec-
mobile phone. It will change the way people work, learn, travel, receive tion and copyright is also urgent, as well as a
healthcare, and communicate with each other. Entire industries will deep discussion about the education system in an
reorient around it. Companies will distinguish themselves by how ef- era where information is widely available. Felipe’s
fectively they use it.” point is that we can’t stop the train and wait for
Felipe agrees and explains that companies that know how to use this everything to be resolved before starting to test
technology can generate a competitive advantage, while those who let the new technology. Those who miss this train will
this wave pass by may disappear. He emphasizes that Generative AI is be left behind.
still not capable of providing 100% verified and highly specific data, but
it is very efficient as a tool for creating different genres of text, images, *Cristiana Pontual is Communication Director
text reviewing and translation, generating discussion topics and ideas, at Saab Brasil and co-coordinator of Swedcham´s
summaries, voiceovers, and much more. Communication Committee.
Basically, the tool doesn’t complete the entire work but greatly ex-
Performance, endurance,
transformational excellence
By Carol Böttcher*
T
o endure in the global marketplace in the current corporate and assertive analysis of possible cultural fit is para-
universe, ensuring competitiveness and planning ahead in the mount, understanding and accepting the uniqueness
face of uncertainty may be nowadays crucial for companies. of individuals. The latter encompasses a complex
But will “enduring” be sufficient to stay in the game? combination of factors such as: personal experiences,
Whereas corporate specific goals and strategies may vary personality traits, talents and skills, perspectives and
depending on industries, market conditions and different beliefs, interests and passions, goals and aspirations,
corporate cultures, the overarching objective for most organizations is to values and ethics - which makes us individuals each
achieve sustained success by outperforming competitors. And as a matter one-of-a-kind.
of fact, companies and organizations generally strive to excel rather than Especially when considering attracting the Gener-
“merely” endure… even if endurance may also be an essential aspect of ation Z an alignment of personal values and a clear
corporate strategy for long-term success! sense of purpose becomes pivotal. Those profes-
If enduring implies an ability to withstand challenges and sustain sionals seek to have a positive impact on society
operations by building a solid foundation as a safeguard against unex- and prioritize meaningful work that goes beyond fi-
pected future disruptions - excelling goes a step further by focusing e.g on nancial gain. They appreciate inclusive organizations
continuous improvement, innovation and constant adaptation. which foster innovation, collaboration and which
Companies with the prowess to constantly review their strategic out- may offer opportunities for life-long learning with
look, naturally embracing new technologies and accepting the certainty clear career progression paths and equal opportuni-
of constant change as a sine qua non condition have a better outlook to ties. Having grown up in a digital era Generation
excel in the marketplace. Z expects organizations to leverage technology
Currently, to not only stay in the game but rather be ON TOP of their effectively: work-Life Balance and the flexibility in
games – companies will protect their most valuable asset: their workforce work arrangements, such as remote work options
and talent, as employees are in fact their most valuable asset. and flexible schedules are highly appreciated.
During the last few years our Human Capital Committee has been ac- As to Porsche’s former CEO Peter Schutz: “In the
tively discussing on the relevance of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity as an war for talent, companies that create an environment
essential topic of their corporate agendas. Engaging a diverse workforce where people want to work and can do their best
may not only to be the right thing to do from an ethical standpoint but will win.” Talent acquisition plays today a vital role in
probably also a business imperative for sustained success. building a high-performing workforce. To be successful
Nonetheless if on the one hand the recognition companies need to adopt effective strategies to attract
of the importance of having a diverse workforce and retain top talent which may include a compelling
and its value as a mighty competitive advantage employer brand, offering competitive compensation
is stronger than ever, on the other hand profes- packages, providing opportunities for growth and
sionals are also increasingly looking to align their development while fostering a positive work culture.
personal values and sense of purpose with the Investing in the development, engagement and
organizations they work for. Some may seek com- well-being of its workforce is no longer an option
panies that prioritize environmental sustainability for companies seeking to get - and to endure - on
or social responsibility; while others may want to top of their games excelling excellence.
be part of agile organizations of strong
entrepreneurial outlook, for example. *Carol Böttcher is coordinator of
Nowadays, to attract and retain Swedcham’s Human Capital Committee.
top talent sustainably, an accurate
Nordic Light 73
NordicLight The joint-publication of the Swedish-Brazilian and the
Norwegian-Brazilian Chambers of Commerce.
Editors:
Editorial Council: Miranda Okello I Jonas Lindström
Sergio Quiroga do Cunha, Swedcham Chairman, [email protected]
Jonas Lindström, Managing Director,
Peter Johansson, Swedish Consulate General, Design / Production:
Olle Widén, FinanZero. Edson Borba - Graphic Design
[email protected]
Swedish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce Phone: 11 98531-0553
Rua Oscar Freire 379, 12º andar
CEP: 01426-001 – São Paulo Printing Company:
Phone: +55 11 3066 2550 Mentor Media – Member of Elanders Group
Fax: +55 11 3066 2598 CLIS - Centro Logístico e Industrial de Salto - SP
www.swedcham.com.br SP-073 (Rua Nações Unidas),1800 - CEP: 13329-420
Managing Director: Jonas Lindström Phone: +55 11 3195 3400
Business Swedcham has a Business Center with all the possible infrastructure and equipment to organize
events. Its adjustable rooms are an excellent option for members as well as non-members, who
Center need a place to organize their meetings, courses and happy hours, among other events.
All the environments offer internet access, WI-FI and multimedia equipment. The Swedcham
Business Center includes a spacious auditorium with multimedia and a lounge to relax in and
read Swedish and Brazilian newspapers and magazines or have your coffee break or happy hour.
For more information, send us an e-mail at [email protected] or call 11 3066-2550