Brazil is known as a top destination for international investment. In fact, in 2001, Goldman Sachs branded Brazil, along with Russia, India and China, as a “BRIC country.”
The news propelled Brazil into the spotlight as one of the key emerging economies that will drive growth over the next century. Since then, Brazil has been a premier investment opportunity in Latin America and the region’s leader in foreign direct investment.
Over the last 20 years, the level of foreign investment in Brazil has made a clear statement to the business world about its attractiveness to multinational companies. With a population of 193 million, Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest worldwide. It is the world’s leading exporter of beef, chicken, orange juice, sugar and ethanol, and second in the world in soybeans and maize. It will host the Olympics in 2012 and the World Cup in 2014. The IPO of the state-owned oil giant Petrobras raised $70 billion, the world’s largest on record. Clearly, Brazil is a profitable harbor for international capital.
Although Brazil is well known as a great place to invest, it is also known as a complicated place to do business. Businesses considering operations in Brazil should consider a wide range of cultural issues and business practices, including:
- Non-convertible currency. Despite the stability of the economy, Brazilian currency (BRL) is non-convertible, meaning that it is impossible to legally buy or sell it outside the country. The Brazilian Central Bank is making efforts to remove this barrier and experiment with foreign conversions, but the process is still not permitted on a large scale. Due to this restriction, all deals denominated in a foreign currency must be registered and reported to the Brazilian Central Bank.
Compliance, compliance, compliance. Dozens of ancillary obligations and strict regulations affecting almost all areas of business activity make Brazil a complex business environment. All statutory databases, transactions, documents, forms, etc. must be written in Portuguese and denominated in the local currency. The company’s managers and the accountants responsible for producing financial and tax information are required to use unique electronic signatures to file all tax returns on the tax authorities’ website. These are only a few examples of local compliance obligations, and none of these functions can be performed from outside the country.
- Plurality of taxes. Brazil has three different levels of tax—municipal, state and federal. Depending on the nature of the business, companies may face multiple indirect taxes for a single transaction. Selecting the appropriate tax regime and taxation system for local operation is critical and may make the difference between success and failure. Dealing with foreign trade (import and/or export of goods and service) triggers additional duties for consideration, which must be planned, analyzed and carefully structured ahead of time in order to avoid unnecessary expenses.
- Payroll charges. On average, for each dollar paid as salary to employees, some additional 65 cents must be paid for social security charges and mandatory legal benefits. Most common fringe benefits, which are discretionary in other countries, are mandatory in Brazil.
- Banking system. Brazil has a sophisticated banking system that uses state-of-the-art technology. Most transactions are handled on a real-time basis, regardless of the location of the parties involved. This demands a clear financial plan to deal with these constraints. Payment terms are, in general, short (30 days), and taxes are often due before the actual collection of the sale is processed.
- Relocation of foreigners to work in Brazil. The visa process is bureaucratic and might take much more time than a foreign investor would expect. The process is designed to protect the job security of local nationals.
- Joint ventures. Many foreign companies start local operations in Brazil through a joint venture with a local partner. It enables easy entry into the country and requires minimal capital investment.
Brazil is a challenging business environment that requires a posture of respect and understanding for the local culture and procedures. On the other hand, it is a booming market that can serve as a platform for the entire South American region. Our key recommendation is: plan ahead, plan during incorporation, plan during start-up and plan while the business is running. Of course, it is not easy, but with proper preparation and the recognition that local expertise is a must, success is just around the corner. iBi
