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CEMS Magazine | april 2013
Network events
CEMS-supported conference explores the development of Brazil ____
Benjamin Luehrs and Raffaella Bignardi – LSB 2012 Organising Committee
____ The latest edition of Leadership Summit Brazil (LSB) took place on 19 October 2012 at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo. Six topics vital to Brazilian development were discussed: Agribusiness, Sustainability, Economics, Capital Market, Infrastructure, and Human Capital. The e-conference format provides a unique opportunity for students from top business schools from all around the world to critically engage with some of the foremost political, business, and academic leaders in Brazil today. The outcomes of the debate gave an interesting perspective.
to drastically slow deforestation but that there still remains room for improvement by both the private sector and the government.
World-class Agribusiness was established to be a fundamental prong of the nation’s development and an area in which Brazil can use its leadership to gain important international influence, yet poor infrastructure prevents Brazilian agribusiness from reaching its potential.
Under-control inflation and low interest rates promise a positive outlook for Brazilian Capital Markets, according to the panel’s banking leaders, particularly in the currently underused BM&FBOVESPA stock exchange and in the previously cost-prohibitive Brazilian debt market.
Experts agreed that Brazilian Economics have to be based on domestic competitive advantages, even if those happen to be in commodities, and should welcome, not reject, the entrance of the Chinese economy on the world stage.
Infrastructure improvement was shown to be a fundamental priority of the current
Concerning Sustainability, panellists highlighted that Brazil is a global leader in renewable energy use and has been able
Brazilian administration, and representatives from the private sector reinforced the appeal for greater public-private cooperation in infrastructure construction, including a reduction in cumbersome regulation. Finally, in Human Capital, panellists echoed the call for an increased number of professionals to keep up with Brazilian economic growth. The speakers believed that a growing young population will help Brazil fulfil future demand, but educational reform and immigration of foreign professionals attuned to the specificities of Brazilian culture will inevitably be part of the solution. n
LSB is an annual e-conference focused on the socio-economic development of Brazil. The event takes the form of a debate on the next steps Brazil must take in order to continue to grow and affirm its position in the international community as an economic powerhouse of 190 million people. More information about the event can be found at www.lsbrazil.com!