President's Letter

Cassio Segura

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends:
 
It is a great honor to be nominated President of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida – BACCF, for the year 2018.  The BACCF is a highly relevant and supportive organization that has been promoting the business relationship between Brazil and Florida for more than 35 years.

2018 begins with a lot going on:  new technologies, new ways of doing business, and continuous changes in consumer behavior that are re-shaping traditional trade protocols, bringing uncertainty to the business environment and posing challenges to all stakeholders.  Indeed, traditional businesses today may become outdated in the very near future. “Disruption” is one of the most spoken words in these times.

As we begin the year, entrepreneurs are successfully developing and operating spaceships while location-based APPs are disrupting the way we move (to drive one’s own car is not so essential nowadays) or buy things (why go out for dinner if you can have a quick delivery and enjoy the comfort and high-end amenities at home?). Online sale portals are impacting brick and mortar department stores while digital currencies are challenging the sovereignty of physical money. Although uncertainty is ever present in the business environment, we can no longer be distracted and not pay attention to what is happening in the economies of our respective countries.

The tax overhaul in the US requires a better understanding of its impacts on trade and what would be the best format for doing business in this country. The US economy has been booming and is fully recovered from the mortgage/banking crises of 2008.

In Brazil we foresee the economy gaining traction as evidenced by the improvement in the country’s key economic and financial indicators. The 2018 general elections that will choose a new president as well as senators and federal deputies, may generate some volatility in the short term, but the country’s strong and independent institutions, together with its solid democracy, will preclude possible negative impacts that could hinder the economic recovery over the mid- to long-term.

Given this scenario, the support and guidance of the BACCF will be critical to navigating the year ahead. The Chamber’s diversified, experienced, and well positioned membership can provide relevant and precise knowledge in an uncertain and disruptive operating environment.  We at the BACCF understand that the promotion and expansion of the trade relationship between Brazil and Florida needs to be done on a solid and consistent basis and follow the proper rules and best practices in order to strengthen the stakeholders, create wealth, and perpetuate our businesses.

As we manage the present, we also try to understand and anticipate future events to better position our businesses, create a safe and sound trade architecture, protect our environment, and build a better place for all of us as well as for future generations.  In a world without borders, never has Buzz Lightyear’s phrase looked more precise to me: “To Infinity and Beyond!”

See you!  We’re all in this journey together.

Cassio Segura

BACCF President 2018