28/08/2026
This week, Lucila Almeida, Deputy Representative of the Netherlands Business Support Office Southern Brazil (NBSO Porto Alegre), was in the state of Santa Catarina for a series of strategic engagements with institutions and companies aimed at further strengthening economic and institutional relations with the Netherlands.
Among these engagements was a meeting with Invest SC, the investment promotion agency of the Government of Santa Catarina, which works to attract new investments, support the expansion of companies already established in the state, and structure Public-Private Partnerships. The meeting included José Ari Vequi, Executive Secretary of Invest SC, and Riciele Fronza, Investment Attraction Consultant at SC Participações e Parcerias S.A. (Invest SC).
📊 A RELEVANT MARKET FOR BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT
With a GDP of BRL 513.4 billion (2023 - IBGE), Santa Catarina has the second-largest economy in Southern Brazil, with a diversified economic base and a strong industrial presence, as well as a dynamic innovation ecosystem and strategic port infrastructure.
🔹 The discussions pointed to a practical agenda in areas such as trade and investment, innovation and technology, sustainable industry, ports and logistics, energy transition, agrifood, and international cooperation, with potential to bring companies, knowledge institutions, and public-sector stakeholders from both markets closer together.
🔶 Among the avenues discussed was the possibility of expanding exchanges between Santa Catarina and the Netherlands, including business and institutional missions from Santa Catarina to the Netherlands, as well as future visits by Dutch companies and organizations to the state to explore opportunities, meet potential partners, and develop projects.
🤝 There is also scope to deepen government-to-government dialogue and connect companies, innovation ecosystems, and knowledge institutions on both sides. Santa Catarina’s growing internationalization and its efforts to build closer economic ties with Europe create a favorable environment for advancing these connections.
