Governments across Brazil are looking to roll out a system developed that uses geolocation tracking to support actions around the lockdowns intended to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Brazilian startup InLoco develops the geolocation technology, which is normally used by companies from sectors such as retail, to securely target and engage with users without the need to share personal information. Users are geotracked through a location map that doesn’t use GPS or beacons, which InLoco claims to be 30 times more accurate than GPS.

 

By Angelica Mari Via ZD Net

 

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Acting in defense of rights is hard work, which requires full dedication and commitment. Fundação Abrinq knows that if you have focus and passion, it is possible to make a difference and bring opportunities for thousands of children. 

Fundação Abrinq believes in a fairer world, and it was with that in mind the operations were conducted last year. With your feet on the ground, impacting one life at a time, transforming one history at a time; that is how Fundação Abrinq will continue working to ensure a more sensible society when it comes to helping those who most need support and protection: children and adolescents.

Meet Fundação Abrinq

As you approach the city of Sobral in north-east Brazil, the road worsens. Huge pot holes slow traffic to a crawl. The heat is suffocating, even worse when there is no cloud cover.

Sobral is poor. Jobs are scarce, salaries meagre, gangs the only option for many. For children, it’s a tough start to life. Ana Farias, headteacher of an early-years school in a low-income neighbourhood controlled by a gang, knows this only too well. Some of her students wouldn’t eat if it were not for free school meals.

 

By Sarah Johnson via The Guardian

 

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SAO PAULO, March 26 (Reuters) – Brazil’s monetary council on Thursday said the country’s fintechs will be able to obtain funding from development bank BNDES, as their usual financing channels have dried up due to coronavirus-linked market tensions.

The authority also said that fintechs will be allowed to issue credit cards as an alternative source of revenue.

 

By Carolina Mandl via Nasdaq

 

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With the diagnosis that the encouragement of industry export capacity is essential for the recovery of the Brazilian economy, the National Industry Confederation (CNI) asked the government to draw up a national strategy for foreign trade, informs the “Agency Brazil.” It said foreign sales are one of the few engines for the resumption of growth will remain after the end of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus covid-19.

The suggestion contained in the 5th edition of the International Agency of Industry, released on Wednesday (25) by CNI. The document lists 109 actions suggestions for the government and the entity itself, divided into four areas: trade policy, to support the internationalization services, actions in strategic markets and international cooperation.

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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Dear Members:

 

The Board of Directors of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce hereby welcomes and congratulates, as new President & Chairperson of the Board, Simoni Morato, Chief Executive Officer & Senior Executive Vice President, Safra National Bank of New York (bio attached).  Ms. Morato was unanimously elected by the Board of Directors to serve in this role on March 24, 2020.  Her leadership and insight will be integral to developing strategies and policies that pave the way for the future of the Chamber and further its mission of promoting trade, investment, and cultural ties between Brazil and the United States.

 

The Chamber also welcomes, as new Vice President, Amadeu C. Ribeiro, Partner, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados LLP.

 

As newly-elected Directors, the Chamber congratulates:

 

Daniel Almeida Bogado Leite, Banco do Brasil

Elizabeth Madigan Jost, Morgan Stanley

Paula Kovarsky, Cosan Limited

William Landers, BTG Pactual

Renata Neeser, Littler Mendelson P.C.

Sandy Salgado, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

Helio Shinohara, Caixa Econômica Federal

Arnoldo Wald Filho, Wald, Antunes, Vita, Longo e Blattner Advogados

 

As re-elected Directors, the Chamber congratulates:

 

Marco Antonio Achon, Banco Santander S.A.

Marcio M. S. Baptista, TozziniFreire Advogados

Celso V.  Barison, Citrus Products, Inc.

Henry G. Burnett, King & Spalding LLP

Roberto De Paula, Royal Consulting, Inc.

Karyn K. Koiffman, Akerman LLP

G. Edward Montero, UBS

Francesca L. Odell, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Natalia Quesada, American Airlines

Gabrielle Trebat, McLarty Associates

 

Newly elected to the Executive Committee include, as Past Presidents, Alexandre Bettamio, Chief Executive Officer & President of Latin America Division, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Theodore M. Helms, former Executive Manager, Investor Relations, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – PETROBRAS and former Executive Director of the Chamber; as Vice President, Amadeu C. Ribeiro, Partner, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados LLP; and as Members, Francesca L. Odell, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, and Paulo Vieira da Cunha, Partner, VERBANK Consulting, LLC.

 

Alexandre Bettamio was also elected as Co-Chairperson of the Awards Committee.

 

The Chamber hereby extends a warm congratulations to all now serving on its Board of Directors!

 

Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

 

Please find Simoni Morato’s biography here

The COVID-19 crisis will likely result in the postponement of the go-live date for Brazil’s general data protection regulations. According to industry observers, the pandemic is seen as a fair justification to delay the go-live date for the regulations, which are due to be enforced in August 2020.

A bill authored by congressman Carlos Bezerra presented in November 2019 had already proposed pushing the go-live date for the rules to August 15, 2022. In his proposal to delay the introduction of Brazil’s GDPR, Bezerra used the slowness in setting up the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD, in the Portuguese acronym), which will be responsible for editing the data protection and privacy regulations, as a key part of the argument.

 

By Angelica Mari via ZD Net

 

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The Ministry of Infrastructure announced on Monday (23) that the folder will work together with the governors of the states of South and Southeast to avoid local decisions which determine the blocking of roads as containment measure of the spread of the new coronavirus, informs the “Agency Brazil.” The subject was treated in videoconference between the Minister Tarcisio Gomes de Freitas and the governors of the Consortium of South and Southeast Integration (Cosud).

According to the ministry, there was consensus that state decrees shall ensure the free movement of cargo transportation and the operation of services of tire stores, auto repair shops, restaurants and eateries along the highways.

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) published two more ordinances framework of priority projects in the biofuels sector, aiming at issuing debentures encouraged. The measure encourages the expansion of investment by raising funds for infrastructure projects aimed at implementation, expansion, maintenance, recovery, adaptation or modernization of enterprises with tax breaks for investors and encouraging the growth of employment and income in the industry .

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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SAO PAULO, March 23 (Reuters) – Brazilian wireless carrier TIM Participacoes SA said on Monday it has partnered with Rio de Janeiro’s city hall for data analysis that will allow authorities to track displacement and concentration of people in areas affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement, the local subsidiary of Telecom Italia SpA added it will use its antennas spread across Rio de Janeiro to provide real-time data on people’s displacement throughout the city.

 

By Gabriela Mello via Reuters via Reuters

 

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Agriculture Ministers from various countries in South America participated in this Monday (23) at the invitation of Tereza Cristina Minister, in a video conference to discuss the harmonization of standards and ensuring a smooth transit of goods and food supplies in the region during coronavirus pandemic. “It is essential to our alignment at the highest level policy, which should also be reflected in agile and clear instructions for the operational plan, especially for the tip, border authorities,” he said the Brazilian minister.

They participated in the virtual meeting with Tereza Cristina ministers Luis Eugenio Basterra (Argentina), Antonio Walker homage (Chile), Rodolfo Max Friedmann Alfaro (Paraguay), Carlos Maria Uriarte (Uruguay), Jorge Luis Montenegro Chavesta (Peru) and Beatriz Eliane Capobiano Sandoval (Bolivia), as well as representatives of the Brazilian ministries of Infrastructure and Foreign Affairs.

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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NEW YORK, March 23 (Reuters) – Brazilian mills are expected to make a sharp switch from ethanol to sugar production in the new season kicking off in the world’s largest sugarcane producer, as falling gasoline prices and a weak currency reduce the biofuel’s appeal, analysts said.

Mills in Brazil have the flexibility to partially switch cane toward sugar or ethanol production, depending on market prices. For the last two years, they have allocated an all-time low amount of cane for sugar, around 34%, as ethanol gave them higher returns.

 

By Marcelo Teixeira via Nasdaq

 

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) poses particular concerns for employers for several reasons, beyond the obvious need to protect employees who may be at risk and the need to address employee concerns: coronavirus might be transmittable in the workplace, and is serious; the incubation period after exposure but before symptoms appear is believed to be a minimum of several days; and early symptoms can mimic less severe respiratory problems, such as the flu.

We hope this page provides a useful resource for employers to learn how COVID-19 is affecting various aspects of employment law, and how different jurisdictions are addressing the outbreak. Because the COVID-19 situation is dynamic, with new governmental measures each day, employers should consult with counsel for the latest developments and updated guidance on this topic. 

 

More Information

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., we regretfully inform you of the passing, on March 19, 2020 at the age of 99, of Sheun Ming Ling, President Emeritus of the Board of Directors of Évora S.A. and Founder of Instituto Ling, a longtime and valued partner of the Chamber.

With no formal education and few resources, Mr. Ling migrated from China to Brazil in 1951.  Shortly thereafter, he set off on an entrepreneurial journey that jumpstarted Brazil’s soy industry, creating Évora S.A.  In 1995, Mr. Ling and his wife, Lydia Wong Ling, founded Instituto Ling, a philanthropic entity that has provided 772 students, many of whom are Person of the Year Fellows, with educational scholarships.

Mr. Ling is survived by Lydia, to whom he was married for 66 years, four children, and nine grandchildren.  More information on Sheun Ming Ling’s great life and career can be found here.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) will work jointly to provide greater legal certainty and speed the implementation of public policies folder.

The cooperation agreement was signed on Tuesday (17) between the Minister Tereza Cristina and Attorney General of the Republic, Augusto Aras. The partnership between the two bodies had already been signed in previous years, with the development of similar actions. However, with expansion of map structure, the current government, the agreement was renewed.

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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With the increase of cases of contamination by the new coronavirus in Brazil, Companhia de Bebidas das Americas (AmBev) announced on Tuesday (17) that is producing alcohol gel to distribute 500,000 bottles to municipal hospitals in the cities of São Paulo , Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, where cities are concentrated the majority of cases of the disease so far, informs the “Agency Brazil.”

 

By DATAGRO

 

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The Central Bank of Brazil has launched its standard for QR Codes, to universalize cashless payments in the country. The new standard will become mandatory in September 2020.

“The new rules aim to increase transparency for end-users, both payers and recipients, by expanding and improving access to information and, thus, creating a pro-competitive environment in the Brazilian Payment System”, said the Central Bank, in a statement.

 

By Angelica Mari via ZD Net

 

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Golar Power Limited has signed a “protocol of intentions” with the government of Brazil’s Pernambuco state to develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in the Port of Suape in northeastern Brazil, Golar LNG reported Monday.

Golar Power is a 50/50 joint venture (JV) between Golar LNG and the private equity firm Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, according to Stonepeak’s website.

 

By Matthew V. Veazey via RigZone

 

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Lua has a hungry look on her face as she holds her new book on Nelson Mandela, one of thousands the precocious 12-year-old has amassed for her new library in a poor Brazilian favela.

“I don’t read books. I devour them,” she says in Rio de Janeiro’s Tabajaras neighborhood, a shantytown perched in the hills overlooking the chic districts of Copacabana and Botafogo.

 

By Agence France-Presse via Rappler.com

 

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Artificial intelligence (AI) programs are already making decisions in different judicial processes. In these cases, legal professionals check and then confirm the guidelines suggested by the software.

AI also already performs actions such as reading, interpreting, selecting, and drafting legal documents, changing the profile of activities in courts and law firms.

 

By Flávio Ferreira via Folha de S. Paulo

 

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The estimated gross revenue from all Brazilian crops, with reference to average prices received by producers in January, is estimated for 2020 at $ 438 billion, reports the “Embrapa”.

In calculating this amount, it is established a ranking of five products, it finds that the first figure soybean, R $ 158.6 billion, which corresponds to 36% of the said value; corn, second, with R $ 72.7 billion (15.5%); followed by sugarcane with R $ 59.16 billion (13.5%); upland cotton with R $ 41.4 billion (9.5%) in fourth place; and finally, billing the Cafés do Brazil, fifth place in the ranking, with R $ 25.06 billion, a figure equivalent to 5.7% of all crops. Thus, the estimated revenue from the coffee crop for this year represents an increase of approximately 25% compared to 2019 revenues, which reached R $ 19.94 billion.

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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The month of February recorded that ethanol sales by mills in the South-Central region totaled 2.40 billion liters, with 2.28 billion liters for the domestic market and 120.79 million liters for export.

The export volume represents an increase of 41.40% over February 2019 (85.42 million liters), with 99.49 million liters sold in the last half of the month.

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has registered a blockchain-based system patent in Brazil under the category of “insurance,” “financial business” and “monetary business,” according to the March 10th edition of the Industrial Property Magazine (NPI).

As reported by the NPI, the name of the mechanism is “Ant Unicorn.”

By Felipe Erazo via Cointelegraph

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The opportunity to expand the ethanol consumption in the world is primarily linked to its use as an additive in the mix of fossil fuels, for example, in gasoline. This was underlined by the president of Unica, Evandro Gussi in “Opening Safra Cana, Sugar and Ethanol 2020/21 Santander DATAGRO” on Wednesday (11) in Ribeirão Preto (SP).

According to him, who recently made a tour of Asian countries [India, Thailand and Afghanistan] in order to delve into the reality of these markets biofuels, ethanol is in absolute harmony with the global agenda for decarbonisation. “The world wants to decarbonisation, but does not yet know the ethanol potential for it. In this regard, the electric car, which does not deliver what it promises in environmental terms, has been gaining in the field of communication. ”

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of agribusiness grew 3.81% in 2019 compared to 2018 and represented 21.4% of total GDP of the country last year, according to publication of the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (CNA), Center of Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea) and Agrarian Studies Foundation Luiz de Queiroz (FEALQ).

Services (6.77%), raw materials (5.54%) and agricultural industry (4.99%) grew in 2019. The primary sector was down 3.03%, pushed down by agriculture. “From the perspective of the branches, it is noted that, in 2019, agribusiness was driven by the excellent performance of the livestock sector, while the agricultural industry receded,” says the publication.

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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Brazil’s soybean output in the current 2019-20 season is expected to reach a 126mn t record, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said today, in a 1mn t upward revision from last month’s forecast.

The estimate, if accurate, would represent a nearly 8pc increase from the prior year, according to USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (Wasde) report.

 

By José Roberto Gomes via Argus Media

 

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SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Heineken NV (HEIN.AS) will invest 865 million reais ($183.14 million) to expand its Ponta Grossa brewing plant in Brazil, the company said on Monday, as competition between the world’s two largest beer makers bubbles up.

The Dutch brewer will make the investment this year and next and focus on it Heineken and Amstel brands at the third-largest brewing facility in Parana state in Brazil, its most important market worldwide.

 

By Alberto Alerigi via Reuters

 

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Interested to strengthen the economic partnership between Brazil and the United States, the Presidents Jair Bolsonaro and Donaldo Trump instructed their negotiators to intensify the discussions prior to the possible signing of a bilateral trade package. The information was confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the folder, the intention is that an agreement will be signed later this year.

Bolsonaro and Trump met on Saturday night (07), during a dinner at a resort belonging to the very head of the US Executive, located in Palm Beach, Florida, announces the “Agency Brazil.”

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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(Reuters) – Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) said on Wednesday it was testing in Brazil a new type of tweet that disappears after 24 hours, similar to the stories feature popular on Snapchat (SNAP.N) and Facebook’s (FB.O) photo-sharing app Instagram.

Called ‘fleets’, the vanishing messages can be viewed by tapping on a user’s profile picture. They do not appear on the user’s timeline or receive retweets, likes or public replies, Kayvon Beykpour, the company’s product lead, said on Twitter.

 

By Ankit Ajmera and Katie Paul via Reuters

 

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FRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF/BRASILIA, March 5 (Reuters) – A consortium formed by Germany’s Thyssenkrupp AG TKAG.DE and Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA EMBR3.SA signed a deal on Thursday to deliver four frigates to Brazil’s navy between 2025 and 2028, the companies said in a statement.

The contract signed in Rio de Janeiro is part of Brazil’s drive to modernize its navy so it can patrol off-shore resources in the Atlantic, such as Brazil’s vast pre-salt oil reserves.

 

By Christoph Steitz and Tom Kaeckenhoff via Nasdaq

 

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SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA and state development bank BNDES are planning a simultaneous listing of JBS international operations in the United States and the sale of the bank’s stake in the company, five sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Sources close to the company say JBS is working on a transaction that is different from the one proposed in 2016.

 

By Tatiana Bautzer, Aluisio Alves and Carolina Mandl via WHBL

 

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Join WE NYC and the Consulate General of Brazil in New York for this WE Master Leadership Conference!

This event is designed for women entrepreneurs with a goal of starting or growing a business in the United States. We will help you gain the critical management skills needed to start, operate, and grow a successful business.

*Please note the panel will be in Portuguese and the talks in English. For the talks, consecutive interpretation to Portuguese will be provided by Patricia Vittorazzi from New York Step-by-Step on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

The day will feature:

  • A thought-provoking panel discussion (in Portuguese) with successful Brazilian women entrepreneurs who will talk about the lessons they have learned throughout their entrepreneurial journey in the United States. Panelists will include Leticia Moreinos Schwartz, Chef Letícia, Jordana Guimarães, Co-Founder, FashInnovation, Jakeline Castanheira Co-Owner and Manager, Dog Room Club, and Sara Taublib, Founder, ModusRio. The panel will be moderated by Angelica Vieira, Executive Producer, Manhattan Connection.
  • A talk covering the Effective Communication Tactics (in English, with consecutive interpretation to Portuguese).
  • A talk covering Negotiation Techniques (in English, with consecutive interpretation to Portuguese).
  • An opportunity to network with business leaders and other entrepreneurs in the community.

 

More Information

The Brazilian economy will grow more than 2% in 2020 if the government-proposed reforms are approved, he said on Wednesday (04) Economy Minister, Paulo Guedes, informs the “Agency Brazil.” He said the coronavirus will have little impact on the country because the Brazilian economy is closed in relation to the economies of the rest of the world.

“In the second year [of government], I think we grow above 2%, even with the coronavirus. The Brazil has had two confirmed cases [the number rose to three today]. It is an economy that was relatively closed all these years, “said Guedes, he left the Ministry of Economy for a ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

 

Via DATAGRO

 

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Only two days after Latin America’s first case of coronavirus was confirmed in São Paulo, the largest Brazilian city, researchers at Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL), the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil and the University of Oxford in the UK have published the complete genome sequence for the virus, which they call severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The report was published on February 28 on Virological.org, a forum for discussion and data sharing used by virologists, epidemiologists and public health specialists. This kind of information helps understand how the virus is spreading around the world, and is useful for the development of vaccines and diagnostic tests.

 

Via Technology Networks

 

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OSLO (Reuters) – Online marketplace OLX Brazil has agreed to buy competitor Grupo ZAP for 2.9 billion reais ($642 million), forming a leading Brazilian player in digital real estate advertising, OLX and its European owners said.

By combining their operations, rapidly growing OLX and ZAP can slash costs and boost earnings margins while providing a broader range of services to the online real estate market, they added late on Tuesday.

 

By Terje Solsvik via Reuters

 

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BRASILIA — Brazil posted a trade surplus of $3.1 billion in February, official data showed on Monday, far stronger than forecast and confounding any expectations that the coronavirus outbreak might have dampened exports.

February’s figure was double the median consensus forecast in a Reuters poll of economists of a $1.5 billion surplus, a result of exports totaling $16.4 billion and imports reaching $13.3 billion.

 

By Marcela Ayres and James McGeever via The New York Times

 

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It’s a hot summer’s day in São Paulo – sadly a relatively rare one this year – and Euromoney is with XP Inc’s head of media relations and the assistant to chief executive Guilherme Benchimol in an air-conditioned meeting room on the 28th floor of the newly IPO’d company. The air con and the chilled water are refreshing; while we wait, the assistant checks her phone.

“He’s nearly here,” she says. “He’s on his way in from his farm.”

By Rob Dwyer via Euromoney

 

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Brazilian construtech Ambar wants to take the hassle out of the millions of consumers across the country who are either building or renovating their homes with an all-in-one automation platform.

The startup founded in 2012 and backed by the likes of Texas Pacific Group, Endeavor Catalyst and e.bricks Ventures is known for its modular systems – dubbed “Lego for construction”, these are packages of items needed for building or renovation work, in areas such as hydraulics – aimed to facilitate and speed up the overall job.

 

By Angelica Mari via Forbes

 

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The Brazilian trade balance registered a surplus of US $ 520 million and total trade of US $ 7.412 billion in the third week of February 2020, as a result of exports worth US $ 3.966 billion and imports of US $ 3.446 billion. According to data released on Thursday (27) by the Secretary of Ministry of Economy of Foreign Trade (Secex / ME) in the month exports totaled US $ 12.364 billion and imports, US $ 11.259 billion, with a surplus of US $ 1,105 billion and total trade of US $ 23.624 billion.

 

By DATAGRO

 

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MADRID — Santander Brazil head Sergio Rial will join Santander’s board as a group executive director, the Spanish bank said on Thursday, giving the 59-year-old more influence over its overall strategy.

The Brazilian is viewed as one of the leading candidates to become Santander CEO in the medium term, several senior bankers have told Reuters, after the bank failed to hire Italian banker Andrea Orcel for the role in January last year.

 

By Jesús Aguado, Carolina Mandl and Pamela Barbaglia via The New York Times

 

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