The Brazilian Ambassador visits AAU · 3. March 2011
On March 2 Aalborg University opens a new Latin American centre, where in future researchers and the business world will focus on one of the world’s growth areas. Among the guests invited for the opening is the Brazilian Ambassador in Denmark - Gonçalo Mello Mourão, and Danish Industry’s representative in Brazil - Per Lerdrup Olsen, who will be present to share his views on Danish companies’ opportunities in one of the world’s most rapidly growing markets.
Typically, Latin America has been given low priority by the Danish research environments and by the Danish foreign policy. However, with a centre for Latin America Aalborg University can place itself in a strong relation to a region that is expected to gain higher priority in the future. Aalborg University is, therefore, interested in an increased cooperation with Latin American countries concerning research and education, and also the university wishes to work together with the Danish business world as regards initiatives within the Latin American region, Associate Professor Steen Fryba Christensen, one of the people behind the initiative to start the new centre, explains.
Brazil is the economic locomotive of Latin America
With economic growth, decreasing unemployment and social stability Latin America has developed into a region, where Danish companies can invest and benefit from it.
The locomotive of the region is still Brazil, who has an expected growth in GDP (gross domestic product) of 4-5 percent this year.
Brazil is in a very positive growth period at the home market, due to a great decrease in the number of poor people in the country and a steep increase in the middle class, which now includes more than half of the population. Brazil is, therefore, a very popular country for investments, and it is expected to continue to be so. In fact, Brazil is assessed to be the world’s 4th or 5th largest economy in the year 2050. The economic force of Brazil has at the same time contributed to the country’s more prominent role on the international political scene, and Brazil is already working on fulfilling its potential as a future nation of great power.
For further Information, please contact:
Steen Fryba Christensen
Aalborg University
Kroghstræde 3, Room 3-207
DK-9220 Aalborg East
Telephone: + 45 99 40 91 73
Email: sfc@cgs.aau.dk
