Sunday, March 20, 2011

President Obama's Business in Brazil


USA Today reported:

Obama also offered U.S. help on infrastructure needed to bolster the host country's two major upcoming projects: the 2014 World Cup, to be conducted across the country, and the 2016 Summer Olympics, to be centered in Rio.
As usual the President pushed American branded global corporations.

Executives from a number of American corporations, including International Paper, Cargill, Citigroup and Coca-Cola, participated in the CEO session.
No word on whether Peter Orszag made the trip.  Citigroup hired Orszag as Vice Chair of Global Banking. What kind of infrastructure will the U.S. help Brazil develop?  Maybe a berth at a Brazilian port for Utopia, an ultra luxury cruise ship.  The Utopia plans to take in Carnival, the Olympics and maybe the World Cup.  Carlyle's Chairman Emeritus Frank Carlucci is both a Utopia investor and luxury resident owner.

Carlyle Group already invested some of $1.5 billion slated for Brazil.  Carlyle purchased a majority stake in CVC, Latin America's largest tour operator. The 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics should provide major demand for CVC.  Carlyle also purchased a Brazilian health insurer, lingerie maker, and is interested in other Brazilian hot properties

Carlyle co-founder David Rubenstein knew how to garner President Obama's stimulus funding.  Will he do likewise with Brazilian infrastructure money?  I detect stimulation and corporafornication. 

News reports had President Obama calling Brazil a "model of democracy."  In America corporations have the same free speech rights as citizens.

"It was an historic speech," said Eduardo Eugenio Gouvea Viera, who represents FIRJAN, Brazil's leading industry federation.

"The message he gave was that the most worthy value to Brazilians and Americans is freedom," Viera told Brazil's official Agencia Brasil.

CNN stated:

A group of protesters were barred from holding an anti-American and anti-Guantanamo rally, Brazil's official news agency reported.
Brazil may be a quick study.

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