Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. Leadership Travels to Brazil to Encourage Trade Between Afro-Brazilians and Minority Businesses In America

(Washington, DC) The leadership of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) just wrapped up a whirlwind tour of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, and Vitoria, Brazil, during which they met with officials in the Administration of newly-elected President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. CBCF Chairman William J. Jefferson, MC, who is also Co-Chair of the Brazil Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, and CBCF President Weldon J. Rougeau, were joined on the trip by other interested parties in the Legislative Branch and, by D. Olandan Davenport of Davenport and Associates.

“Brazil’s economy is impressive, outweighing that of all other South American countries. It has an extensive network of well-developed agricultural, mining, and manufacturing outlets. That’s why it is important for us to recognize the tremendous benefits of connecting their goods and services providers to American outlets, and exposing African American businesses to their consumers,” said Chairman Jefferson. During the six-day trip, that was planned in great part by Mr. Davenport, the group was hosted by officials in the Administration of newly-elected President Lula da Silva, including Vice President Jose Alencar, Ms. Benedita da Silva, Minister of Social Assistance and Promotion, and Mr. Gilberto Gil, Minister of Culture.

“By virtue of the fact that it is the most populous country in South America, the extensive labor pool that comprises the Brazilian workforce has made that country a leading economic power and a regional leader,” said CBCF President Weldon J. Rougeau. “Afro Brazilians, who constitute 47-percent of the population, are striving to learn positive growth strategies from African American business leaders. They face many of the same roadblocks and economic issues that we faced in the 1960s, lack of business opportunities and the tools to organize into a cohesive economic force,” he

continued. Another stated objective of the trip is the expansion of business opportunities and cultural ties between the Afro-Brazilian and Afro-American communities.

While in Brazil, the principals met with Brazil’s Trade Minister, numerous Afro-Brazilian business owners, leaders of American multi-cultural corporations, members of the academic community, and Brazil’s political party leaders. They also toured Rio de Janeiro, and numerous historic, economic, and cultural sites, including the steel terminal at Praia Mole.

Mr. Rougeau met with Henrique Ulbrig, the President of DuPont do Brazil and chair of the board of INTEGRARE. Mr. Ulbrig embraced the idea of a summit to be held in August of 2003, and indicated that the other board members would embrace the idea as well. Mr. Ulbrig talked about the value of the inclusion movement from the view of corporate Brazil. He indicated that the business case argument for inclusion had taken hold in Brazil, as it has here in the US.

Specifically, Clarence Smith, cofounder of Essence magazine has developed a project to establish an airline between Miami, Florida and Salvador, Bahia in the northeast of Brazil. Bahia is the center of African culture in Brazil and a frequent tourist destination for African Americans. Currently, no direct flights occur between the US and this region of Brazil. Mr. Smith's theory is that a direct route to the area will exponentially increase the number of African Americans traveling to the area.

This trip to Brazil followed a December 2002 visit by officials from that country during which they expressed an interest in developing closer ties to African American businesses. During that visit, a Memorandum of Understanding between the CBCF and the Brazilian organization INTEGRARE was signed, allowing the follow-up visit and mutual collaboration on projects of mutual interest, to take place.

The CBCF serves as a nonpartisan, policy-oriented catalyst to educate future leaders and promote collaboration among community and business leaders, minority-focused organizational leaders, and organized labor to effect positive and substantive change in the African American community.