Brazil what's cool right now
Brazil, Advanced Economic Rank, Political and Economic Global Role
Damascus, (SANA) – Brazil occupies almost half of Latin American continent and populations and spans more than 8,5 million square kilometers.
Brazil is distinguished by diversity of the natural resources as be among the world richest states and ranks the 9th largest economy in the world.
The abundance and production of rubber had marked the beginning of Brazil's economic renaissance and helped the construction and building of new cities in the North and East areas besides the natural wealth in the Amazon jungle and the richness of the forests' soil with different metal components made Brazil an unparalleled agricultural-industrial country in the Latin American Continent .
Due to the possession ofa quarter of the world's reserve of fresh water and moderate tropical climate, the agricultural wealth formed the pillar of Brazil economic development especially after the great development witnessed by this sector, where the total exports during 2009 hit USD 54 billion.
The agricultural sector contributes 28 % of the Gross National Product, (GNP), and accommodates approximately 37 % of the Brazilian workers.
Brazil tops the industry and production of biofuels (Ethanol) produced by sugar cane which is one of the promising industries that attracted large investments in this field.
The areas cultivated with sugar cane amounted 8.7 million hectares, i.e. 2 % of the total arable lands. Given the abundance of iron ore in Brazil, the mining industry yields unrivaled savings for the companies operating in this field.
Brazil is also ranks fourth in aircraft industry in the world, and produces the finest types of aircraft which fly regional medium-range areas as well as outstanding production of a number of other types of military use, including the Super Tucano.
Recently, Brazil announced the beginning of oil extraction operations that attracted a number of global companies to share the Brazilian National Oil Company/ Petrobras / concessions in the exploration and extraction.
This led the Brazilian government to announce new regulations to determine the basic principles for the management of this wealth and distributing its revenues with the state keeping the largest share.
The recent discoveries, according to the British Petroleum sources, indicated that Brazil has approximately 100 billion barrels of oil and large quantities of natural high-quality gas buried in the rocks of the pre-salt layers at a depth extending from 3000 to 7000 meters under the sea.
Brazil experienced, in recent years, significant growth in building industry where the major cities are witnessing non-stop movement and growing workshops, whether in terms of constructing trade or tourism buildings that attracted local and foreign capitals.
The official statements show that the volume of Brazil's GNP amounted to USD 1,5 trillion. The Brazilian Central Bank mentioned that the country has a cash reserve up to about USD 200 billion, expecting the GNP to grow at rates ranging between 5.5 % and 6 % as the industry sector will mainly contribute in this growth, particularly the convertible industries sector.
Brazil attracted, in 2008, about USD 36 billion in foreign direct investments. Its exports were valued at USD 153 billion in 2009, with USD 10 billion to the Arab countries, while imports reached USD 127 billion, USD 10 billion of which coming from the Arab world.
Official data and reports indicate that the percentage of inflation expected in 2010 will not exceed 4, 6 % compared to 4, 3 % in 2009.
Despite the global financial and economic crisis, the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was able last year to provide more than 1,4 million job opportunities and the percentage of unemployment was 7, 9. This percentage is expected to drop in 2010 according to official statistics.
Brazil has been among the first top countries in the world in the production of oil and natural gas from the sea.
Also on the international level, Brazil includes 80 % of the branches of high-profile companies, 12 % of the international companies established in the 21st century and 22 % of the total arable lands. It also has a workforce of 96 million workers.
Brazil is the first among the top cereals exporting countries in the world, the third in producing shoes and beverages and the seventh in paper and cellulose production.
The Federal Republic of Brazil is the official name of the country. In addition to the capital Brasilia, which is a federal district, Brazil includes 26 states.
Brazilians speak Portuguese as the official language along with the English, the Spanish and the French.
The currency is the Brazilian Real (BR) which is equivalent to about 1, 75 USD.
There are 31 official parties in Brazil. President Lula da Silva belongs to the Labor Party while Vice President Jose Alencar is from the Republican Party. President of the Brazilian Senate Jose Sarney is member of the Democratic Movement Part and Speaker of the Parliament Michel Tamer belongs to the Labor Party.
The number of population in Brazil totals 190 million, constituting half the number of population of the continent of South America.
Brazilians are a mixture of people from Europe, Asia and Africa in addition to the Red Indians, the indigenous people.
Unofficial statistics show that the number of Arab expatriates or citizens from an Arab origin in Brazil reaches 12 million, mostly centered in the states of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro.
The Syrians living in Brazil are estimated at 4 million descending from their forefathers who started to come and settle in Brazil at the beginning of the 19th century and following the historic visit of Emperor Pedro II to the Middle East in 1876.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was born on 27 October 1945 in Garanhuns district in the state of Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil.
Under the pressure of poverty, his family was forced to move to Sao Paulo where Lula da Silva had to work in a cereal store, and later in a screw factory.
He became involved in trade union activities through his brother Frei Chico who was member of the Brazilian Communist Party and held several important trade union posts. In the late 1970s, when Brazil was under military rule, Lula da Silva helped organize trade union activities including a major public strike. Lula da Silva established the Brazilian Labor Party in 1980 supported by representatives of social and religious movements.
In 1982, President Lula da Silva stood as a candidate for the post of Sao Paulo Governor as he came fourth in the elections.
In 1986, he was elected as a federal member of the parliament with the highest number of votes on the national level. In 2002 elections, Lula da Silva won over his key rival Jose Serra from the Social-Democratic Party of Brazil (PSDB) with 63, 2 percent of votes.
In 2006, President Lula da Silva was elected for a second presidential term as he won over his rival Geraldo Alckmin in the second round of elections with 60, 83 percent.
Official historical documents show that the Portuguese seaman Pedro Alvarez Cabral was the first who reached the Brazilian shores during one of his voyages of discovery in April 1500AD as he called the country 'Mount Pascoal'.
Later, Alvarez Cabral called Brazil ' Vera Cruz ' after he suspected that the discovered land might consist of continental plains and hills. After many Portuguese seamen reached the discovered land, it was named 'Santa Cruz Land '.
In 1511, the country was named' Brazil' after a rare type of trees discovered by the Portuguese seamen as they used to extract red dye from these trees.
Brazil has passed through important historical stages since it was discovered to the establishment of the Republican Federal System based on democracy and legislative principles.
R. al-Jazaeri/ H. Said/ Ghossoun/ Zahra
Source: sana.sy