Brazil: Sajid Javid promotes British excellence
Published 10 July 2014
© Crown copyright 2014
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/brazil-sajid-javid-promotes-british-excellence-july-2014/brazil-sajid-javid-promotes-british-excellence-july-2014
0.1 Summary
Full agenda championing the UK as centre of excellence in education, culture, tourism, business and finance. Agreement with Ministry of Tourism to support UK colleges. Confirms UK as a top partner for the Brazilian Ministry of Culture’s new programme to train Brazilian creative talent in the best global institutions. Doubling of Chevening Scholarships to Brazil by 2015.
0.2 Detail
Nothing boring about Brasilia
Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport began a three city visit to Brazil from 23-26 June in Brasilia, meeting the Minister of Tourism, Vinicius Nobre Lages, and senior officials. He signed an MoU with the Ministry of Tourism, positioning the UK as one of only two international partners chosen to train outstanding students from Brazil’s tourism sector in hospitality and English. A pilot will start in November involving five UK colleges and generating over a quarter of a million pounds in three months. Success will lead to a significant increase in students, with good prospects for UK colleges over the next few years.
Sajid Javid described the UK’s use of the London Olympics to promote the UK as a destination for culture and tourism, offering partnership to Brazil as they prepare for Rio 2016. This was welcomed by the Ministry of Culture who confirmed Brazil’s decision to choose the UK as a key destination for delivery of a new programme, Culture without Borders, aiming to train 25,000 Brazilian creative industries students in leading global institutions by 2016. The initiative will be launched in July and led by the British Council.
Almost as much business in Minas Gerais as in Sao Paulo
The visit to Minas Gerais was well timed, with opportunities in infrastructure and energy. Minas Gerais will be a base for Team GB during the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics. A meeting with the State Governor cemented our sporting and commercial relationship. Engaging with business leaders at GREAT Britain House events in Belo Horizonte and Sao Paulo, the Minister reinforced the UK’s reputation as a centre for finance and foreign investment. To a packed audience in Sao Paulo, the Minister championed the UK as a top international business hub, with 21st century infrastructure for the global economy.
The Minister also opened the GREAT Visit Britain Tourism event which hosted leading Brazilian tourism agents. The UK welcomed 257,000 Brazilian visitors in 2013, spending roughly £277m, making Brazilian tourists a lucrative group for the UK. The Minister’s promotion of what makes the UK GREAT, from Harry Porter to Prince Harry, provided a high profile boost.
At the Queen’s Birthday Party, the Minister engaged with the biggest British investors in Brazil, and lobbied for their support of Team GB for both the Olympics and Paralympics, a move very much welcomed by British Olympic and Paralympics Association representatives.
One eye on the future
Brazil’s future leaders - the students from Brazil’s top university, the University of Sao Paulo - provided the perfect audience for a seminar to promote the UK as a destination for higher education. The Minister championed the Chevening Scholarships, announcing the doubling of scholarships for Brazil by 2015. We will now build on this momentum to promote the next round of scholarships. This well timed visit allowed us to deliver on our broader objectives, including inward investment; promoting UK as a tourism and cultural destination; deepening the strategic relationship with Minas Gerais; and entrenching the UK’s position amongst the top three choices for higher education in Brazil.
0.3 Disclaimer
The purpose of the FCO Country Update(s) for Business (”the Report”) prepared by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is to provide information and related comment to help recipients form their own judgments about making business decisions as to whether to invest or operate in a particular country. The Report’s contents were believed (at the time that the Report was prepared) to be reliable, but no representations or warranties, express or implied, are made or given by UKTI or its parent Departments (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)) as to the accuracy of the Report, its completeness or its suitability for any purpose. In particular, none of the Report’s contents should be construed as advice or solicitation to purchase or sell securities, commodities or any other form of financial instrument. No liability is accepted by UKTI, the FCO or BIS for any loss or damage (whether consequential or otherwise) which may arise out of or in connection with the Report.