Brazil Boosts Small Business Export and Credit Access Through New Initiatives
New federal programs and legislation in Brazil aim to enhance export readiness and credit access for micro and small businesses, fostering economic growth and job creation.
- • Launch of a new PEIEX nucleus in São Caetano do Sul to train 350 small businesses for export.
- • PEIEX aims to qualify 2,425 companies in São Paulo by 2027 with R$ 21 million investment.
- • Senate approves project reserving 25% of constitutional fund credits for micro and small enterprises.
- • Small businesses generate 8 out of 10 jobs in Brazil, highlighting their economic importance.
Key details
Brazil recently launched significant initiatives to enhance the support for micro and small enterprises, particularly focusing on export readiness and financial accessibility. On November 5, Minister Márcio França inaugurated a new branch of the Export Qualification Program (PEIEX) in São Caetano do Sul, aiming to empower 350 small businesses in the ABC Paulista and Baixada Santista regions. This program, backed by ApexBrasil and Sebrae-SP with an investment of R$ 21 million, will qualify a total of 2,425 companies in São Paulo by 2027. PEIEX trains micro and small businesses to enter international markets—a strategy that has already aided over 30,000 companies in generating exports worth about US$ 3.6 billion. Minister França highlighted the program's role in creating jobs and fostering innovation, emphasizing the importance of small businesses in Brazil's economy.
In parallel, the Senate's Commission on Regional Development approved a project mandating that 25% of credits from constitutional funds in Brazil's North, Northeast, and Midwest regions be reserved for micro and small enterprises. Proposed by Senator Jayme Campos, this legislation aims to ensure mandatory credit allocation to these enterprises, addressing a gap in earlier laws. Senator Efraim Filho supported the measure, noting that small businesses generate 80% of Brazilian employment, underscoring the move's potential to strongly support regional economic growth. If small businesses do not fully utilize these credits, leftover funds will be redistributed every quarter.
Together, these developments represent a coordinated federal effort to nurture the growth and international competitiveness of Brazil's small business sector through targeted export training and improved access to financial resources.