Προφίλ συναλλασσόμενης χώρας Βραζιλία

Setting up a company | FDI in figures | Why you should choose to invest | Procedures relative to foreign investment | Finding assistance for further information

Setting up a company

Legal business entities

Types of companies and capital (max/min)	Number of partners/shareholders and liability	Maximum and/or minimum capital	Liabilities	Registration fees
La Sociedade a responsabilidade limitada is a limited liability company .	2 partners maximum.	No minimum capital.	Their liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed. They are also jointly liable for the company's commitments within the limit of the capital remaining to be paid up.	Cost of the registration to the State's commercial office where the company is located: BRL 59.06; Registration to the municipal taxpayers's register: BRL 300.
La Sociedade anonima is a public limited company.	2 partners maximum.	No minimum capital. NB: 10% minimum of the issue price of the subscribed shares must be paid up in cash.	The partners' liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.	Cost of the registration to the State's commercial office where the company is located: BRL 59.06; Registration to the municipal taxpayers's register: BRL 300.
The general partnership.	n.c.	No minimum capital.	Their liability is joint and indefinite.	Cost of the registration to the State's commercial office where the company is located: BRL 59.06; Registration to the municipal taxpayers's register: BRL 300.
The limited joint-stock partnership.	There are two types of partners, the active partners and the silent partners.	No minimum capital.	The liability of the active partners is unlimited. The liability of the silent partners is limited to the amount of capital contributed as long as they do not participate in the management of the company.	Cost of the registration to the State's commercial office where the company is located: BRL 59.06; Registration to the municipal taxpayers's register: BRL 300.

Business setup procedures: The Articles of Association (Contracto social for an SARL or Estatuto social for an SA) must be drawn up in Portuguese by a lawyer. Company registration is carried out either at the Register of Commerce (Junta Comercial), or at the Civil Register of legal entities (Registro Civil das Pessoas Judicias) according to the nature of the company. A study is carried out to see if the name of the future company already exists. Then you have to register at the local agency of the Cadastro Nacional de Pessoas Juridicas (CNPJ); then, once you have proof of registration, at the municipal authorities of the company's location.
The competent organization: All necessary information is on the SEBRAE website. It is also possible to make an application for registration by Internet. It is advisable to call on a lawyer for assistance.

FDI in figures

Foreign Direct Investment	2007	2008	2009
FDI of inward flow (millions USD)	34584.901025142	45058.1563037669	25948.58
FDI inward stock (millions USD)	309667.992671851	287696.891189861	400807.737951259
Performance Index*, ranking on 141 economies	101/141	90/141	87/141
Potential Index**, ranking on 141 economies	71/141	67/141	-
Number of Greenfield investments***	154	250	271
FDI inwards (in % of GFCF****)	14.5084053609199	14.7312045764805	41.520325010115
FDI stock (in % of GDP)	22.6555856001734	17.5571047149048	25.4637714504152

πηγή:

Note: * The UNCTAD Inward FDI Performance index is based on a ratio of the country's share in global FDI inflows and its share in global GDP. ** The UNCTAD Inward FDI Potential index is based on 12 economic and structural variables such as GDP, foreign trade, FDI, infrastructures, energy use, R&D, education, country risk.*** Green field investments are a form of foreign direct investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up. **** Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) measures the value of additions to fixed assets purchased by business, government and households less disposals of fixed assets sold off or scrapped.

Why you should choose to invest Brazil

Strong points: Brazil has Universities that perform just as well as their counterparts in the OECD and a very big manpower reserve educated to all levels. It also has extensive raw material resources. A number of sectors offer good business opportunities. The Brazilian economy is diversified and more and more manufactured goods are produced and exported. The potential of the Brazilian domestic market as well as the low cost of labor are elements which may attract foreign investors.
Weak points: Despite being open to world trade, several administrative barriers cripple international trade. Valuing the real against the dollar automatically reduces the country's competitiveness against Asian competitors in some sectors. The Labor laws are very onerous, involving substantial costs to foreign companies and keeping a good part of the local business in the informal sector.
Government measures to motivate or restrict FDI: The Brazilian government encourages and promotes FDI. Most of the barriers to foreign investor activity have been removed particularly on the stock market. A very large number of public companies have been privatized and many sectors deregulated over the last fifteen years.
Bilateral investment conventions signed by Brazil: Brazil has signed bilateral agreements for the protection of foreign investment with 14 countries, but 7 of them have not been ratified by the Congress.
To see the list of countries, click here.
To see the conventions, click here.

Procedures relative to foreign investment

Freedom of establishment: Guaranteed.
Acquisition of holdings: The investment regime in Brazil is a liberal regime which allows foreign investors to have a majority share in the creation of their company.
Obligation to declare: The agency for the promotion of foreign investment in the country gives information about the authorizations necessary for setting up. All inflows of capital must be declared to the Central Bank.
Competent organization for the declaration: Central Bank of Brazil
Requests for specific authorizations: Foreign investment is restricted and requires special authorization in the nuclear, health, land ownership, fishing, post office, telegraphs, aviation, aeronautics and media sectors.

Finding assistance for further information

Investment aid agency: BNDES
Agency for the promotion of investment in Brazil
FINAME
Other useful resources: Central Bank of Brazil