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AIA Sponsors First Trade Mission to Brazil

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WASHINGTON — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is sponsoring its first Architecture Service Trade Mission to Brazil. The trade mission will take place from Oct. 6 to Oct. 10.

As Brazil prepares for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic games, there is expected to be a greater demand for infrastructure projects in the country. On Aug. 22, Reuters reported that Brazil development bank BNDES estimates it will finance about $12.34 billion in infrastructure projects in 2013, 22.5 percent more than it did last year. The trade mission’s goal will help introduce U.S. firms to the growing Brazilian market and Brazilian partners.

It will target sectors with high potential for U.S. exporters: master planning including regional design and city planning and port redevelopment; hospitals and other health care-related facilities; airports, port development and other transportation infrastructure; mixed-use projects; and a varitype of education institutions.

Mission participants will visit Rio de Janeiro and Recife, where they will have market briefings, meetings with government and industry officials, matchmaking meetings and other networking opportunities. This will give participants exposure to key decision makers in both private and public sectors of the commercial building industry. It will also give them the chance to meet with Brazilian architecture trade associations.

“This trade mission represents another exceptional opportunity to expand the reach of architectural talent around the globe,” said AIA President Mickey Jacob, FAIA, in a statement. “Our profession represents a major economic tool for boosting U.S. exports and creating jobs here in the United States.”

A joint venture with the International Trade Administration, the mission supports President Obama’s National Export Initiative and his goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014. The AIA and U.S. Department of Commerce supported previous trade missions to India in 2012 and Sri Lanka earlier this year.

In India, one of the world’s fastest growing economies, the country is planning to invest $1 trillion in infrastructure during its twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-2017). According to the AIA, the mission to India was successful and provided an opportunity for AIA members and related professions to find partners and work in the country.