Brazil and Bolivia Strengthen Cross-Border Business Ties While Jacareí Promotes Local Supplier Engagement for Mercado Livre Project

Efforts to boost economic development through local business involvement saw key initiatives in both international and municipal spheres this May. In an important cross-border cooperation, Brazil and Bolivia are working to enhance regional integration and support micro and small businesses along their shared border. Meanwhile, the city of Jacareí is fostering local economic growth by promoting supplier engagement in a major logistics infrastructure project.

From May 12 to 14, André Schelini, Technical Director of Sebrae/MT, participated in a meeting held in Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bolivia, aimed at strengthening public policies and the business environment in the Brazil-Bolivia border region. Organized by the UNDP in partnership with Cainco and Sebrae, the initiative focuses on reducing barriers to bilateral growth, including efforts toward regulatory harmonization and technical compliance for small enterprises. Schelini highlighted the importance of aligning regulations and offering technical support to facilitate access to new markets for micro and small entrepreneurs. Officials such as Bolivia’s Minister of Productive Development showed keen interest in Brazil’s business registration model to help reduce bureaucracy and improve legal security. The initiative also aims to leverage strategic logistics corridors and training to ease agro-industrial product entry into regional markets.

Closer to home, Jacareí’s Secretary of Economic Development, Eliane Biondo, is actively promoting a business roundtable to stimulate the hiring of local suppliers and workforce for Mercado Livre’s new distribution center. The facility, managed by Construtora Libercon, will cover 300,000 m² with about 140,000 m² constructed, generating approximately 5,000 jobs. This strategic consultation between the city’s economic office and the construction company aims to strengthen the local production chain by providing potential suppliers direct dialogue with project leaders. Set in Jardim Esperança with great highway access, the new center embodies a vital economic stimulus for the local business community.

Together, these efforts illustrate an ongoing commitment to integrate local and regional development strategies. The Brazil-Bolivia cooperation aims to transform border economies through shared regulatory frameworks and market access, while Jacareí's supplier engagement exemplifies city-level initiatives to harness economic growth from large commercial investments.

As articulated by André Schelini, “Strengthening cooperation between neighboring countries enhances market opportunities, innovation, and territorial development, especially in border regions like Mato Grosso.” Similarly, the Jacareí initiative underscores the value of local supplier inclusion to maximize economic benefits from major infrastructure projects. Both cases demonstrate robust proactive roles for local businesses in shaping Brazil’s broader economic future.