Nevada officials, companies seek to boost trade ties with Brazil

Nevada already exports billions of dollars of goods and services annually to Switzerland, Canada, Mexico and Japan. But state trade officials are also looking to build stronger trade ties with the so-called BRIC nations — Brazil, Russia, India and China.

To build business relationships, Gov. Brian Sandoval, state economic officials, and business executives have embarked on a number of foreign trade missions. The most recent was a five-day trip to Brazil earlier this month that included Las Vegas-based Extreme Green, All Metal MS, as well as representatives from UNLV’s Lee School of Business.

“The purpose of this trade mission was to establish a stronger relationship with Brazil, both from a state and private industry perspective,” said Kris Sanchez, director of International Trade for GOED, in a statement Thursday.

Nevada exports to Brazil in 2012 totaled $49.1 million. It’s a modest figure compared with $3.7 billion in exports last year to Switzerland, followed by $1.3 billion to Canada, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Sanchez, who led the May 13-17 trip to Brazil, said Extreme Green and All Metal MS “are well on their way to establishing a successful business presence in Brazil.”

Both Extreme Green, which develops electric-powered vehicles, and All Metal MS met with officials from SUFRAMA, a government agency that manages the country’s free trade zone. All Metal MS officials, who develop maintenance and hanger equipment for the aviation industry, also met with Embraer, Brazil’s largest aircraft manufacturer.

Sanchez said officials with UNLV’s Lee School of Business met with the University of Brazil Sao Paulo to develop research partnerships and student exchanges.

“The support from GOED … was critical in terms of connecting us with the proper Brazil contacts to establish the relationships essential to conducting business in Brazil,” said John Buscema, president and CEO of All Metal MS.

Buscema said his company is working to “structure a business model” to operate in Brazil.

This was the fifth GOED trade mission, with three last year led by Gov. Sandoval to China, South Korea and Canada. So far this year, GOED has led trade missions to Brazil and China.

Jennifer Cooper, a GOED spokeswoman, said Thursday Gov. Brian Sandoval will lead trade mission to Mexico and Israel later this year. GOED Director Steve Hill lead a trade mission to China in June.

Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @sierotyfeatures on Twitter.