My name is Tito Almeida. I am majoring in Political Science, minoring in Economics, and this summer, I interned from the 15th of May until the 1st of August at the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Thanks to your donation, I accomplished my first professional experience in my international trade and diplomacy career. This internship meant a lot for me, not only because it was my first professional experience in my area but because I come from a family of Brazilian immigrants to Canada.
Established in 1973, the Chamber of Commerce Brazil-Canada (CCBC) is a nonprofit, independent organization held by the private sector. CCBC gathers both Brazilian and Canadian companies and aims to foster, support and expand trade relations and investments and promote cultural and technological exchange between the two countries.
Among the many projects, I contributed as the institutional relations and business affairs intern was to strengthen Albertan-Brazilian bilateral relations. I was privileged to participate and share my insights in many meetings with government officials from Alberta, such as from the Department of Foreign Investment and Trade, Invest Alberta. By the end of my internship, I helped coordinate an Albertan business mission to Brazil, aiming to discuss the possibility of a MOU with the Brazilian state of Parana.
I have also contributed to the Chamber’s relations with the Brazilian government. I helped connect the Chamber with the parliamentary group of Brazilian MPs that aim to increase bilateral relations with Canada. I have also studied the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies, intending to identify relevant political figures for the CCBC.
Lastly, I contributed to Canada Day, which CCBC hosted to celebrate Canadian culture and promote Canadian educational institutions to Brazilians looking to study abroad. Among the universities we had as panelists were Queens and University Canada West.
Now that my internship is over, I can state that all my learning objectives were accomplished. I learned how to negotiate by attending and leading meetings with prospects with the business development team. Furthermore, I learned how to conduct foreign trade research, understand FOB measurements, and how the process of internationalizing companies works. Lastly, working with my supervisor, the director of the Department of institutional relations, taught me how to be diplomatic and shrewd in negotiations.
If I could point out a highlight of my internship would be the fact that I had the privileged to attend the annual Brazilian Canadian Economic Forum. The Forum counted on the presence of important panelists such as Marcos Troyjo, former president of BRICS New Development Bank, Emmanuel Kamarianakis, Canadian Ambassador to Brazil, Pedro Borio, Brazilian Ambassador to Canada, Randall Bartlett, CFA, Desjardins Senior Director of Canadian Economics, and Marcia Cristina da Silva Dias from the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development.
To conclude, this internship assured me that I want to work with international trade and foreign affairs, and with all the professional networking I made throughout this internship, I am more motivated than ever. Furthermore, since it was an unpaid internship, I cannot express my gratitude for such a generous donation. If it was not for it, I would not be able to pay for all my living expenses while living in Brazil throughout these three months that I worked at the CCBC.
Again, thank you to the McGill International Experience Awards founders, and Mr. Brown for making this experience possible through their generous support!
