Three heads are better than one

FAEG (Federacao da Agricultura e Pecuaria de Goias), FIEG (Federacao das Industrias do Estado de Goias), and FECOMERCIO (Federacao do Comercio do Estado de Goias) are successfully collaborating with one another to improve economic conditions in the state of Goias.

Each entity benefits from the others’ work and success: in the case of agriculture, FIEG manages the raw material, which is produced under FAEG and later commercialized under FECOMERCIO. Collaboration is the key as each organization works with different sectors of the economy and government in order to attract investment. All three make significant efforts to strengthen small, medium-sized and big businesses, to make them more productive, competitive, and competent.

“The most important thing is that the arrival of companies will generate employment and income distribution. In this regard, small and medium sized companies contribute much more than big companies. It is our dream to help make the small and medium enterprises of Goias become international,” says Pedro Alves de Oliveira, president of FIEG.

Recently, Goias has transformed into one of Brazil’s most successful states, with a growth rate higher than the national average. Industrialization, especially in the livestock sector, is one of the areas heading this economic development. For production and distribution Goias has strategic advantages, as it has both humid and dry seasons, and is located in the center of Brazil.

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“We are more of a producer state than a consumer state. In Brazil, the main consumer markets are the South and Southeast ones. Here we mainly produce, while the consumer market is to be found in these other regions, largely for demographic reasons,” says Jose Evaristo Dos Santos, president of FECOMERCIO.

Because production is so important within the state, FAEG, a sub-organization of the National Agriculture and Livestock Confederation in Brasilia (CNA), is tasked with representing and protecting the interests of the state’s rural producers. It looks after the economic, social, and environmental interests of the state and over 60,000 rural producers.

“Industrialization in the state is quite advanced, and the axis of development in Brazil is run through Goias. As long as tasks are carried out effectively, our state has the capacity to triple grain production, double livestock production, and increase milk, alcohol and sugar production without even cutting a single hectare,” says Jose Mario Schreiner, president of FAEG.

FAEG contributes to the education of the producers, focusing on human capital which makes quality production possible. At FAEG, the National Rural Training Service (SENAR) trains the workforce. Every year, over 100,000 producers and rural workers are qualified by SENAR.

“It is also satisfying (and a novelty for us) to develop social programs here at FAEG and SENAR that are geared towards health in rural areas, with programs aimed at specific education,” says Mr. Schreiner.

FAEG also takes on a great deal of social responsibility, acquiring vaccines used in the fight against foot-and-mouth disease, while investing in research to protect agriculture and food systems.

“It is also satisfying (and a novelty for us) to develop social programs  geared towards health in rural areas, with programs aimed at specific education” Jose Mario Schreiner President of FAEG “It does not matter whether this investment comes from Brazil or abroad. The objective is to see the economy growing, creating profit, jobs and salaries” Jose Evaristo dos Santos President of FECOMERCIO “It is our dream to help make the small and medium enterprises of Goias become international” Pedro Alves de Oliveira President of FIEG

FIEG works to promote the economic development of businesses, also focusing on social, cultural, and industrial development. It works closely with the state government to attract new business and support existing industries. The organization’s work is both political and technical, and much importance is placed on investing in the training of workers through the National Industrial Apprenticeship Service (SENAI).

“Today we have over 300,000 industrial jobs in the state. We also have the industrial social service, which supports the workers and their dependents by supplying educational, health, and leisure services as well as better quality of life,” says Mr. De Oliveira.

Modes and routes of transportation are also of great importance to FIEG, as new routes open up new trade opportunities in the area. The process of internationalization of Goiania’s international airport and the construction of the North-South Railroad have great potential to help the region’s trade.

“Today, our agricultural production must go south to Parana and Sao Paulo, or to Vitoria and Espirito Santo. Only then is it transported by ship to the North Atlantic or the Pacific,” says Mr. De Oliveira. “With the North-South Railroad we can send our products straight to Maranhao, and from there, to the world.”

The trio see great advantages in international trade, and believe it to be crucial for development. Brazil’s biggest market is now China, though the country hopes to strengthen trade ties with the USA, as they see a mutually fruitful opportunity for business.

“Brazil is the most viable country in the world, and at its heart is Goias, with all its natural and economic conditions ready for development in agriculture and industrialization,” says Mr. De Oliveira. “We can assure investors that all money invested in our state has a good return.”

FECOMERCIO aims to attract investment in agri-business, goods and services, and tourism.

“We are concentrating on three sectors of the economy to achieve the objective of attracting investment, whether it be the raw materials sector, including agriculture and livestock; the transformation sector, industry; or the goods, services and tourism sector,” says Mr. Dos Santos. “It does not matter whether this investment comes from Brazil or abroad. The objective is to see the economy growing, creating profit, jobs and salaries, thereby achieving the development the state seeks.”

FECOMERCIO, through SENAC (Servico Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial), also devotes itself to the good health, security, and education of the people of Goias, looking to endow the state with greater confidence and heightened growth potential. For this reason, FECOMERCIO also devotes itself to help workers become qualified professionals, with SENAI and SENAR being used to train workers in the industrial and agricultural sectors respectively.

“We need to help develop all sectors harmoniously, that is to say, the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. I mention them all because we all stand to benefit from one another,” says Mr. Dos Santos. “We are thus working with the aim of strengthening the other sectors because they will certainly bring benefits to commerce. We want all three sectors to grow together through our partnership, taking advantage of the location Goias enjoys, which will eventually contribute to the development of Brazil as a whole.”