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Mayor Sylvester Turner, the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), and the Brazil Texas Chamber of Commerce (BRATECC) are leading a trade and investment mission to Brazil from April 22 – 28. The mission will focus on reinforcing Houston’s relationship with key allies, promoting Houston as a global city, and establishing new avenues for cooperation and investment in energy, manufacturing, technology, and port exchange.

“Houston is a global city, and this mission will enable us to remain a significant player on the world’s stage as businesses in Brazil contemplate expanding and strengthening their presence in the United States,” said Mayor Turner. “Our visit will foster economic opportunities, build partnerships, create more robust cultural ties, and elevate Houston’s position as an international leader for trade and investment.”

According to the Greater Houston Partnership, The Houston-Galveston Customs District is the number one busiest gateway for U.S.-Brazilian trade and Brazil is Houston’s fourth largest international trading partner. From ’13 to ’22, trade between Houston and Brazil averaged $14.0 billion annually and was valued at $20.1 billion in ’22. More than 8,135 people living in metro Houston were born in Brazil.

“Brazil is one of Houston’s most important international partners, with a record-breaking year for trade in 2022,” said John Cypher, Vice President of International Investment and Trade at the Greater Houston Partnership. “A number of Brazilian companies already have significant investment in Houston including Oxiteno, Petrobas and Novanor. We look forward to strengthening our business ties with Brazil during this trade mission.”

The week-long mission will consist of high-level meetings with business and government leaders in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, including:
Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro,

Francisco Siemsen Bulhões Carvalho da Fonseca, Secretary of Economic Development, Innovation and Simplification of Rio de Janeiro,

Petrobras, a state-owned Brazilian multinational corporation in the petroleum industry, and
Federal Confederation of Football in advance of Houston serving as a host city for the 2026 World Cup.

A series of “Why Houston” presentations will also take place throughout the week-long mission to showcase the strength of Houston’s economy and the many opportunities for collaboration that exist between our respective regions.

The delegation traveling with Mayor Turner and GHP includes representatives from the Houston Airport System, Port Houston, Brazil-Texas Chamber of Commerce, Port Houston, United Airlines, Radix, EPAM Systems, MCA Engineering LLC, and Squire Patton Boggs LLP.

The mission’s Exclusive Airline Sponsor is United Airlines, which has connected the U.S. and Brazil for over 30 years with daily flights. The company currently operates from São Paulo/Guarulhos airport and from Rio de Janeiro/Galeão to Houston.

“United has been a proud partner of the city of Houston, where we have operated for more than 70 years,” said Jacqueline Conrado, Country Manager at United Airlines. “We offer the largest number of daily flights locally – around 400 –, with connections to 56 international destinations, including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.”

The mission’s Silver Sponsor is Radix Engineering & Software, which provides technology-based solutions to industrial (O&G, Chemicals, Power, Metals & Mining, Pulp & Paper, Food & Beverage) and non-industrial (Transportation, Education, Health Care, Financial, Entertainment) customers. Radix’ North American headquarters is in Houston, TX and the Global HQ is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with offices in São Paulo and Belo Horizonte.

For more information about trade ties between Houston and Brazil, click here.