BYE BYE TOURIST VISA?

It's about to become very easy to come to Brazil!
This is one reason why the Obama Familia came down here to meet with the Dilma, Brazil's President.
Brazil just doubled the amount of Consulates in the US.  They expect to receive a lot more Americans soon.  Click here to see the updated Brazil Consulate list.

In as little time as one year, the US may add Brazil to their Visa Waiver Program (VWP), meaning Brazilians wouldn’t need a tourist visa to enter the US. As part of the visa reciprocity rules between the two countries, this would mean that Americans wouldn’t need a tourist visa to enter Brazil.

The applying country’s total nonimmigrant visa refusal rate for becoming eligible is set at 3%, though other criteria exist. Nonmember countries who want to join are required to give biometric passports to their citizens and every individual traveler needs to fill out a travel authorization form prior to travel. A few other

BUSINESS IN BRASIL EXPANDING THROUGH ASIA

Source

BNDES eyes opening of Asian office

By Michiyo Nakamoto in Tokyo and Joe Leahy in São Paulo

The Brazilian Development Bank, which is larger than the World Bank, is considering opening an office in Asia to support the international expansion of the country’s leading companies.

The plan reflects a boom in trade between Brazil and China and comes as the bank, known as BNDES, this week signed an agreement with the Japan Bank for International Co-operation to jointly invest up to $3bn in infrastructure projects.

BRAZILIAN BANK IS THE LARGEST LENDER IN WESTERN HEMISPHERE

BNDES, Largest Lender in Western Hemisphere

Source

By Sarah de Sainte Croix, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With disbursements totaling over R$178 billion last year, pundits are calling the BNDES (Banco Nacional do Desenvolvimento, or Brazilian National Development Bank) the most significant lender in the Western hemisphere. However, some economists have criticized the bank’s lending policies as being inconsistent with its own goals and priorities.

Luciano Coutinho, president of the BNDES, photo by Bel Pedrosa/World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org).

According to the BNDES website, “The Brazilian Development Bank is the main financing agent for

LIL JON'S BRAZILIAN MUSIC VIDEO "MACHUKA"

“Machuka” music video by Lil Jon filmed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, featuring Funk MC Mr Catra and  Mulher File. Directed by Ganjda Monteiro.

Lil Jon "Machuka" feat. Mr. Catra & Mulher Filé from Gandja Monteiro on Vimeo.

BRAZIL RANKS AMONG TOP DESTINATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

A recent article by IstoÉ Dinheiro (www.istoedinheiro.com.br), a leading Brazilian business magazine, highlighted Brazil as one of the top destinations for international events. Below we reproduce fragments from the online article introduced by the printed edition as of June 29, 2011:

"The world discovers Brazil

The country is one of the hottest destinations for international events. Last year, the sector generated R$ 84 billion and is expected to triple in size by 2014

By Flávia Gianini - São Paulo

The market for concerts and events in Brazil is already comparable to that of

BRAZIL & CHINA WILL LEAD GROWTH IN ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA

A recent article in the Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico - the country’s leading business daily -, as of June 14, highlighted a study by PwC that points Brazil among the highest-growth markets in the entertainment and media sectors worldwide in the next five years:

"Brazil, China to Drive Global Media Growth

By Gustavo Brigatto - São Paulo

Brazil and China will lead all markets in growth in the entertainment and media sectors in the next five years, according to a PwC study. During that period, Brazil’s compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to be 11.4%, with Chinese CAGR slightly higher at 11.6%.

By comparison, the growth rate in the U.S.—the world’s largest entertainment and media market, with US$ 443 billion in revenues in

50 CENT & G-UNIT IN SALVADOR, BRAZIL

50 Cent and G-Unit came to Salvador, Bahia in 2010.  Here is some video footage they took.