The global Information Technology (IT) Sector gains a new strategic front in two of the world's largest innovation markets. ABES (Brazilian Association of Software Companies), an entity that brings together 2,000 members in the sector in Brazil, and the Federation of Canadian-Brazilian Businesses (FCCB) signed a cooperation agreement with the objective of encouraging the entry of Canadian companies in Brazil and Brazilians in Canada.
The cooperation agreement was signed at the beginning of December by Paulo Milliet Roque and Sérgio Frias, presidents of ABES and FCBB, respectively, and has everything to open doors for Brazilian businessmen in the sector and foster bilateral cooperation between the countries.” Currently, Canada is considered one of the countries with the best ecosystem for the development of innovative projects and stands out mainly in artificial intelligence and the digital creative industry”, emphasizes Frias.
Paulo Milliet Roque and Sérgio Frias
According to Paulo Milliet Roque, this strategic partnership is very welcome in view of the potential for increased business between Brazil and Canada. “Canadian companies that wish to enter the Brazilian market will count on our support and expertise, as ABES provides different services to companies, it is a valuable networking space, it knows the challenging regulatory environment in Brazil and the sources of innovation promotion, among others. benefits,” he pointed out.
The Brazilian Software Market Study – Panorama and Trends 2022, produced by ABES and the consultancy IDC, points out that Brazil occupies the 10th position in the world ranking of investments in IT, with US$ 45.7 billion invested, leading in Latin America. In this same ranking, Canada appears in 8th position, with investments of around US$ 57 billion. When the focus is on startups, the consultancy CB Insights places Brazil and Canada side by side in the Top 10: Countries with the most unicorn startups, list published in beginning of 2022, in 7th and 8th position, respectively.
In the assessment of the FCBB president, Sérgio Frias, Brazil and Canada have the potential to act in areas where there are many synergies between the two countries, such as in the software, aircraft, mining, agribusiness industries, among others. “We have demonstrated to startup entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized companies that Canada is a path to internationalization, even to doing business in the United States, based on strategic planning. The Canadian market is very dynamic and businesses in the sectors of healthcare, environmental protection and financial services are especially welcome”, added Frias.
A non-profit organization based in Toronto, FCBB's work model is through partnerships, such as the one just signed with ABES, which contribute to the purpose of increasing bilateral trade between Brazil and Canada, with a focus on in startups, small and medium-sized companies and even individual entrepreneurs. They are business profiles aligned with about 70% of ABES associates.
“We provide support, provide information about Canadian markets and regions, legislation and connect the entrepreneur with partners who can provide back office services, carry out market research, with lawyers, accountants, investors, incubators, among others. Entrepreneurs save time and avoid unnecessary risks in the internationalization process”, highlighted Sérgio Frias.
About ABES
ABES (Brazilian Association of Software Companies) aims to contribute to the construction of a more digital and less unequal Brazil, in which information technology plays a fundamental role in the democratization of knowledge and the creation of new opportunities for all. In this sense, it aims to ensure a business environment conducive to innovation, ethical, dynamic, sustainable and globally competitive, always in line with its mission to connect, guide, protect and develop the Brazilian information technology market. Currently, ABES represents approximately 2,000 companies, which account for around 85% of revenue in the software and services segment in Brazil, distributed across 24 Brazilian states and the Federal District, responsible for generating more than 210,000 direct jobs and annual revenue of the order of R＄ 80 billion in 2020.
About FCBB
The Federation of Canadian-Brazilian Businesses (FCCB) is a non-profit entity founded in 2009 with the objective of stimulating bilateral trade between Canada and Brazil by supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Startups and Entrepreneurs. Its mission is to strengthen and expand bilateral entrepreneurship, investment and trade relations, acting at all levels of government, universities, associations, innovation and business hubs. For this, FCBB promotes contact networks and public and exclusive events for its clients, such as seminars, conferences, receptions and meetings. Each case is handled individually. Under the presidency of the engineer and executive Sergio Frias, the entity currently brings together around 100 professionals in various fields of activity, in Brazil and Canada. For further information, visit the website https://fcbb.org/
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