BFBC Hosts the 2015 Brazil-Florida Business Awards in Tampa

Tampa, Florida, December 18, 2015 (Newswire.com) - The 2015 Brazil-Florida Business Awards held recently in Tampa was a remarkable success. Influential business and government leaders gathered to honor two remarkable and visionary executives and their significant contributions to the communities and economies of Brazil and Florida. This year’s awardees were David G. Neeleman, Chairman and CEO of Azul Brazilian Airlines and Gary Spulak, President of Embraer Aircraft Holding, Inc.

"These extraordinary leaders run corporations that are much more than just high-profile businesses- they are model corporate citizens central to the fabric of our community and the backbone of our economies," said Sueli Bonaparte, the Brazil-Florida Business Council Founding President during her address. "Our honorees' success stories are paved with big ideas, resilience, imagination and aspirations for the future. Their achievements inspire other corporations to strive for excellence within Brazil and international markets."

In his welcoming remarks, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn noted that the region’s transformation in the past five years has been aided by the significant contributions of bilateral trade to both the state of Florida and to the Tampa Bay area in particular. As evidence of Brazil’s importance as the region’s biggest trading partner, he cited that “$5 billion worth of exports leave the state of Florida for Brazil every year and $400 million in exports leave the Tampa Bay area for Brazil."  

Transportation and logistics has been a key catalyst for increasing international commerce, as Mayor Buckhorn highlighted in his remarks on the expansion of Port Tampa Bay and the Tampa International Airport. "In the last five years the economic engines of Port Tampa Bay and the Tampa International Airport have been responsible for the creation of more than 80,000 jobs, directly and indirectly in the Bay Area."

Gary Spulak, President of Embraer Aircraft Holding, Inc. shared with the audience the humble beginnings of Embraer USA when a handful of Brazilians and Americans gathered at a rented Holiday Inn room in Fort Lauderdale in 1978. He recalled that meeting, in which they shared "the audacity to dream that one day, Embraer could compete in the most complex, the most competitive and prestigious aerospace markets of the work."  

Spulak added that “What the world didn't know was that it was a special chemistry that came together, joining the passion, determination, and the engineering prowess of Brazil, with the US workforce, supplier base and infrastructure, which would enable Embraer to become an integral and important part of the fabric of our industry."

David Neeleman assured investors of his continued confidence in Brazil's future, despite the short-term challenges of the recent political and economic upheaval. "The best days are ahead and we'll get through it," Neeleman stated. He stressed that right now is the right moment to invest in several sectors of the Brazilian economy, calling the current market opportunities "tremendous" and that "when it hits its low point, sometimes it's the best." Neeleman encouraged the guests to visit Brazil for either business or pleasure to see for themselves.

Neeleman shared the motivation behind Azul's inception, which was not only his love for the country and for the Brazilian people, but also the country's need for lower air fares and convenient service. Since its founding in 2008, Azul grown to about 900 flights to 103 cities, serving 60 million customers over the past seven years.

Bonaparte echoed this sentiment, stating that "As I do, David believes in the potential of Brazil's economy, admires the creativity and resiliency of its citizens, treasures its rich and diverse culture, and champions the ability of its business community to navigate turbulent times." She added "David and his family love Brazil more than many Brazilians I know."

About The Brazil-Florida Business Council, Inc.

The Brazil-Florida Business Council, Inc. ("BFBC") is an independent, not-for-profit business association based in Tampa, Florida. It was established in 2014 to forge closer ties between the business communities of Brazil and Florida by fostering bilateral trade and investment opportunities in both regions. To learn more visit www.brazilfloridabusiness.com.

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