Norwegian Risk Consulting International (NRCI) is a Norwegian company specializing in political risk analysis. NRCI assists Norwegian companies investing in Brazil / South America, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. For company information see www.nrci.no.

Last December NRCI issued the first monthly report on Brazil entitled NRM Brazil Oil & Politics December 2011. Click on the name and you may have a look at the report. This report is available on a subscription basis for either 6 or 12 months. BNCC members receive a 20 % discount. Subscriptions include a universal user-license meaning there are no restrictions on how many may use the report within a company. For more details contact NRCI directly by e-mail at subscription@nrci.no – Please indicate that your company is a member of BNCC as this ensures you the 20 % discount.

BNCC has been invited to speak at the upcoming Norwegian Risk Forum 2012, an annual international conference hosted by NRCI in Oslo at the Grand Hotel on October 25 – 26. This year the theme is “Risks and Rewards for Norwegian Businesses in Brazil”. Leading political experts from Norway and abroad, diplomats, NGOs and Norwegian business experts will give presentations and participate in panel debates.

Subscribers to the Norwegian Risk Monitor Brazil Oil & Politics receive a 30 % discount on the conference fee at Norwegian Risk Forum.

 Minha Casa Minha Vida

BNCC has previously reported on the project “Dream, Learn, Work” where Norwegian maritime companies in Rio de Janeiro with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are engaged in schooling of young people in the poorer districts of Rio. Apart from providing education, this project also encourages the graduates to seek employment in the maritime industry, where skilled labor is sorely needed. A win-win example of social responsibility.

Another example of social involvement is the participation of the Norwegian companies Brazil-Invest and Friele in the governmental housing program “Minha Casa Minha Vida”. The program offers an opportunity for private business to alleviate the housing deficit for the poor with a reasonable profit. Another win-win example of social responsibility.

The housing program was launched by the Brazilian government in 2009. The program provides affordable subsidized housing to families making 1 – 10 Minimum Salaries. The demand for housing was initially estimated to 8-10 million units. For details see:  http://www.minhacasaminhavidabrazil.info/general_information.html

The program has been a huge success and on January 4^th President Dilma Rousseff announced that by 2014 the government through Caixa Economica Federal (CFE) will make  over 125 Billion Reais available to this program. So far, 340.000 houses have been contracted, 400.000 delivered and 500.000 are under construction.

The Norwegian companies Brazil-Invest and Friele have through their Brazilian affiliate Crinale since 2009 delivered 700 houses in the state of São Paulo and plans to construct another 2600 over the next 2 years. The key to their success has been efficiency both in the project phase and the construction phase. 7 – 9 months from project initiation to delivery with CEF paying for the houses when completed, has also been a business model with low risk and reasonable profitability.

The photos show the same area in São João de Boavista 6 months apart.  260 new houses ready for their families.

While BNCC does not expect many Norwegian companies to become directly involved in the real estate construction business, investing in social improvements, like “Minha Casa Minha Vida”, is one way to show social responsibility without this becoming a charity, but a win-win situation for all parties.

For more info, contact andre.malinari@crinale.com.br or info@brazil-invest.com

For the first time the relations between Norway and Brazil is the subject of a Brazilian diplomatic thesis. Minister Counselor Paulo
Guimarães is the author of the book now published by FUNAG, so far in Portuguese only. Preparing a thesis on a topic of importance to the Brazilian Foreign Service is an obligation for career diplomats in Brazil. The choice of Norway is in this respect another sign of the attention Brazil now pays to the relations between our two countries.

The rationale for the thesis as stated in the introduction to the book is:
Norway plays an increasingly important role in Brazil in areas considered strategic for the country´s development project. The Nordic country in 2010 became 7th origin of foreign direct investment, participates strongly in the offshore and maritime sectors, was the first to contribute to the Amazon Fund and regularly cooperates with Brazil in the spheres of peace, global health and development in third countries and regions. Besides its importance, the bilateral partnership is also innovative as it relates to some of the challenges for Brazil in the XXI century: exploration of oil and gas reserves in the pre-salt provinces, increased production and competitiveness of the shipbuilding industry, promotion of sustainable development to reduce deforestation and the promotion of peace and national reconstruction, as in Haiti. The book seeks to contribute to the structuring of the relations between Brazil and Norway, based on the examination of experiences and complementarity along most relevant sectors in both countries (energy, maritime industry, environment, peace and reconciliation).

For those interested in purchasing the book, please contact either BNCC or Paulo Guimarães.

On December 5th more than 50 members and supporters of BNCC attended the end-of-the-year reception hosted by BNCC at the residence of the Brazilian ambassador to Norway. The crowd enjoyed Brazilian inspired food and Brazilian wines with Claudio Latini and João Lobo setting the mood with their Brazilian rhythms.

Minister Counselor Paulo Guimaraes spoke on behalf of the embassy and BNCC President Terje Staalstrøm gave a brief review of the year now drawing to an end. 2011 has been another year of strong growth in the relations between Brazil and Norway. Highlights such as the Norwegian government’s Brazil Strategy, Hydro’s acquisition of Vale’s bauxite mines with Vale then becoming a major shareholder in Hydro and STATOIL’s production start on the Peregrino field were mentioned, but the steady growth of Norwegian companies entering the Brazilian market both through Rio and São Paulo, is equally important.
The attendance ranged from Norwegian government officials through representatives of Norwegian private business to Brazilian students now attending Norwegian universities. It was a good event for networking and socializing.

On November 25th board members of the Brazilian Norwegian Chambers of Commerce of Oslo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo met in Rio. It was the first time representatives of all 3 chambers sat down to discuss issues of common importance to the business relations between Brazil and Norway. The meeting took place in Torre Rio Sul where a number of Norwegian companies are located, including those using the facilities of the Norwegian incubator offices run by Innovation Norway.

The Brazil Strategy launched last March by the Norwegian government was the main focus for the deliberations. Aspects of the strategy ranging from how to influence the frame conditions for Norwegian business in Brazil to practical issues like visa, work permit regulations, local content policies and labor capacity and competence, were discussed. A number of actions which the chambers felt they had the qualifications and resources to take, were agreed. The purpose of these actions is both to raise the profile of Norwegian business in Brazil and to work with Norwegian authorities and official institutions to facilitate the relations between Brazil and Norway for bi-lateral business ventures.

To realize and succeed with these actions a strengthening of the cooperation between the chambers is needed. The chambers are today the only Brazilian Norwegian business fora and should as such endeavor to play a more active role both in Norway and in particular in Brazil. Joint initiatives will be taken towards institutions like CNI (Brazil’s NHO) and Brazilian state agencies both in Brasilia and in the states of Rio and São Paulo.

The outcome of the meeting will be on the agenda of this month’s Board Meetings in all 3 chambers.