Firjan - 11/19/2024
By Writing Team
Posted in November 19, 2024
Emmanuel Macron signs the guestbook of Casa Firjan. Photo: Vinicius Magalhães.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, participated on the evening of 11/18 in a private meeting with Brazilian businessmen and the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, and the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, at Casa Firjan, the innovation center of Firjan. Macron is attending the G20 summit in Rio.
The French president was welcomed by the President of Firjan, Luiz Césio Caetano, and the President of the Higher Council of Representatives of the federation, Eduardo Eugenio Gouvêa Vieira. Caetano emphasized the importance of the meeting, citing the strong bonds of friendship and business between the two countries and the state of Rio de Janeiro.
“This meeting further strengthens this relationship of friendship and demonstrates Firjan’s ability for dialogue and negotiation to attract new business and promote development for our state,” added Caetano.
Eduardo Eugenio highlighted Macron’s strong leadership in the global arena. He said it was an honor to welcome the French president to the house of the Fluminense industry. “France is a traditional investor in Brazil and especially in Rio de Janeiro. This meeting is an opportunity for Brazilian businessmen to discuss multiple investments in France, as well as reinforce the long-standing French union with Brazil,” stated the President of the Higher Council of Representatives of Firjan.
Also representing the federation, the following participated in the meeting: 1st Vice President Carlos Erane de Aguiar; 1st Vice President Firjan CIRJ, Isadora Landau Remy; and President of the Business Council for International Relations, Rodrigo Santiago.
On the French side, Minister Antoine Armand from the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industry also participated. Among the Brazilian businessmen were Ricardo Botelho, CEO of Energisa; Oskar Metsavaht, founder of Osklen; Rubens Ometto, Chairman of the Board of Cosan; Armínio Fraga, CEO of Gávea Investimentos and former president of the Central Bank; João Roberto Marinho, Chairman of the Board of Globo Organization; Paulo Drago, CEO of Natural da Terra; and Dennys Spencer Maio, Operations Director at Ambipar.
The strong commercial ties between France and Rio de Janeiro, with large French companies established here, the expansion of the Health Industrial Complex in Rio, and Mercosur were topics discussed between Macron and the guests. Among the French companies operating in the state of Rio, the following stand out: L’oreal, TAG, Saint-Gobain, Voltalia, Michelin, EDF, Jirau Energia. Before the meeting, the French president gave an interview to French journalists, and at the end of the meeting, Macron signed the guestbook of Casa Firjan.
