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Country Commercial Guides for FY 2000: Brazil Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Brasilia, released July 1999 Note*

CHAPTER IX. BUSINESS TRAVEL

Business Customs

U.S. business visitors should become accustomed to several business conditions specific to Brazil. Compared to the United States, the pace of negotiation is slower and is based much more on personal contact. It is rare for important business deals to be concluded by telephone or letter. Many Brazilian executives do not react favorably to quick and infrequent visits by foreign sales representatives. They prefer a more continuous working relationship. The Brazilian buyer is also concerned with after-sales service provided by the exporter.

The slower pace of business negotiation does not mean that Brazilians are less knowledgeable in terms of industrial technology or modern business practices. In fact, one should be as prepared technically when making a call on a Sao Paulo firm as on a Chicago firm. In addition, a U.S. businessperson is encouraged to learn as much about the Brazilian economic and commercial environment as possible before doing business.

While office hours in Brazil are generally 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., decision makers begin work later in the morning and stay later in the evening. The best times for calls on a Brazilian executive are between 10 a.m. and noon, and 3 to 5 p.m., although this is less the case for Sao Paulo where appointments are common throughout most of the day. Lunch is usually two hours. It is customary in Brazil to drink coffee during a business appointment. While many Brazilians may speak English, they may wish to conduct business in Portuguese. The non-Portuguese speaking U.S. executive may need an interpreter on more than 50 percent of business calls. Correspondence and product literature should be in Portuguese, and English is preferred as a substitute over Spanish. Specifications and other technical data should be in the metric system.

Travel Advisory and Visas

While visitors for tourism may enter Brazil with the tourist visa, Brazilian law requires that travelers must have a temporary (business) visa if they plan to transact business. "Business" would include signing legal documents, engaging in financial or commercial transactions, and working or engaging in research.

Tourist visas generally are valid for a stay of 90 days. A temporary business visa is also valid for 90 days. Transit visas are valid for 10 days and require travelers to enter and exit through the same port.

Details regarding Brazilian visa procedures and requirements are provided in literature available on request from the Consular Section, Embassy of Brazil, 3006 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008. Tel: (202) 745-2828.

Holidays

The following holidays are designated by the Brazilian Government:

New Year's Day 			January 1
Carnival* Four nights and three days preceding Ash Wednesday 
Good Friday Varies
Easter Sunday Varies
Tiradentes Day 			April 21
Labor Day 			May 1
Corpus Christi varies 
Independence Day 		September 7
Elections Day 			October 5
"Nossa Senhora Aparecida"
 (Our Lady Appeared) 		October 12
All Souls Day 			November 2
Proclamation of the Republic 	November 15
Immaculate Conception 		December 8
Christmas Day 			December 25

In addition, various state holidays and other religious and federal holidays are proclaimed throughout the year. Some of these include:

San Sebastian Day
  (Rio de Janeiro only)           January 20
Anniversary of the Founding
 of the City of Sao Paulo
 (Sao Paulo only)                 January 25
"Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes"
 (Porto Alegre)                   February 2

* Avoid arriving during Carnival unless reservations have been confirmed in advance.

Business Infrastructure

Air Travel -- Brazil has four principal airlines: TAM, Transbrasil, Varig and Vasp. These companies provide efficient service throughout the country. Brazilian regional airlines provide service to their respective parts of the country. Private charters rentals are available at major airports in Brazil. Scheduled airline fares are comparable to those in Western Europe.

Business people, travelers, and residents spend a good deal of time among the four most important cities -- Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, and Belo Horizonte. Sao Paulo is Brazil's center for commerce and manufacturing; Rio de Janeiro is important for its service industries and several state companies; Brasilia is the seat of government and location of foreign embassies; and Belo Horizonte is a major industrial/mining center. An excellent air bridge (or "ponte aŽrea") service facilitates travel among those cities. During rush hours, flights between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo leave every 15 minutes from conveniently located downtown airports. For weekend travel, return reservations must be confirmed for Rio on Friday evening and for return to Sao Paulo or Brasilia on Monday morning.

Local Transportation -- Meter taxis, identified by roof lights, are plentiful in urban areas. However, getting about in Sao Paulo and other large cities can still be a problem. It is not always possible to rely on taxis when making calls. They are extremely difficult to find at certain hours of the day and in certain sections of the city. Fares are inexpensive and sometimes a table used to adjust fares is posted on the inside of the taxi's rear window. It is not necessary to tip. Also, in Sao Paulo and in Rio, taxi fares are comparable to large U.S. cities such as Washington D.C.

Radio taxis (cabs) are more expensive but convenient and reliable. In Rio call:   270-1442, in Sao Paulo call:   251-1733, in Brasilia call:   224-3030 or 224-7474, and in Belo Horizonte call:   464-3999.

Rental cars are common, especially at airports. They can be costly compared with other forms of transportation. Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are very confusing for a newcomer; driving is not recommended.

Time -- Local time in Brazil is two hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Brazil observes daylight savings from December to February. When daylight savings is in effect in the United States, i.e April to October, Brazilian time is one hour ahead. When daylight savings is in effect in Brazil, i.e November to March, Brazilian time is three hours ahead.