.jpg)
On July 22nd, BM&FBOVESPA, the world’s third largest stock exchange, held its second Brazilian Presidential Election Event in New York City. This edition featured Ms. Marina Silva, Green Party Candidate for the Presidency of Brazil as the Keynote Speaker. Also speaking at the event were Mr. Marcio Garcia, Associate Professor of Economics at PUC-Rio, and Mr. William R. Rhodes, Senior Advisor at Citi. Drawing from their different professional backgrounds, all three speakers centered their presentations on the same topic; Brazil’s future.
More than 120 members of the international investment community attended the event, which began with BM&FBOVESPA CEO Edemir Pinto delivering the opening remarks. The first speaker, Mr. Garcia, talked about the short, medium and long-term challenges to Brazilian development focusing on the areas he feels are in greatest need of improvement. “In order to reach sustainable growth, we must increase human capacity,” Garcia said. Following Mr. Garcia’s, Mr. Rhodes spoke of his ‘Seven Economic Points to Take on for Brazil’. Many of his assertions, such as further improvements in education and infrastructure, complemented those made by Mr. Garcia.
Speaking last, Ms. Silva’s dedicated her remarks to the future needs of Brazil as well as her potential agenda if she is elected President. The Senator and former Minister of the Environment refuted the popular notion that going green impedes a country’s growth. “On the contrary, we believe the environment is the path that leads to the only development that matters, the path to the future and a technological revolution,” Silva said. Following her speech, Ms. Silva took questions from the audience on topics ranging from deforestation to the Brazilian banking system before meeting with around 30 members of the press.
