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The Japan Times
WORLD EYE REPORTS
BRAZIL |
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©THE JAPAN TIMES
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Friday, April 12, 2002
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Paradise lost and found
Brazil has gone through some difficulties in recent times. Despite devaluations and social unrest, however, there are signs that the country is on its way to resolving some of its traditionally recurrent problems.
Poverty and lawlessness have reached disturbing proportions in some areas and the road to economic prosperity in Brazil is often rocky. Still, there is much to celebrate in this country: the landscapes and coastlines are breathtaking, and its earth harbours untold natural resources.
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The Latin American Network Information?s site on Brazil gives you hundreds of links on the country, with topics ranging from local media to museums to government offices.
www.lanic-utexas.edu/la/brazil
InfoBrazil is a site featuring analysis and opinion on Brazilian current affairs. Visit this site for an independent view of this giant country.
www.infobrazil.com
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 Rio de Janeiro's Cristo Redentor- blessing or waiting? |
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Furthermore, people of all origins and religious denominations live together here in relative harmony. In general, Brazilians are warm, welcoming, and intelligent.
Large factions of Brazilian society are deeply religious and some believe that this is a blessed land. Brazil's most recognizable figure - Pele aside - is Rio de Janeiro's magnificent statue of Christ. The Cristo Redentor appears to bless its admirers with outstretched hands. FULL STORY
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Toast of the industry
The Brazilian automotive industry has seen many fluctuations in recent years. In the mid-1990's, the market was buoyant, inflation was low and the currency was stable. Today it's a different story; many dealerships are experiencing difficulties and unsold cars are beginning to overcrowd showrooms across the country.
So did the automotive industry make a mistake when it invested so heavily in Brazil? Absolutely not. For one, Honda -- the Japanese car and motorcycle maker - is a resounding success today in this part of the world.
With nearly forty years of experience on these shores, Honda has achieved nearly 90 percent of the motorcycle market share in Brazil. Even during the most serious currency devaluations in 1999, Honda's sales in this sector continued to grow. FULL STORY
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A Brazilian rhapsody continues
Five million home audio equipment units are sold every year in Brazil. This is the sixth biggest market in the world for television sets and the fourth and fifth biggest for air conditioners and refrigerators (respectively). Brazil is much more than an appetizing destination. For astute, market-aware firms, it is a paradise in the making.
The Japanese electronic consumer goods manufacturer, Panasonic, saw this promise early on and established its first Brazilian operation here in 1967. In these early years, manganese and alkaline batteries produced in the company's Sao Jose dos Campos factory were the mainstays of the business. After that, Panasonic moved on from strength to strength. To this day, new product lines are launched regularly every two to three years. FULL STORY
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 Panasonic do Brasil President Masahiro Seyama |
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