Santa Catarina Boosts International Trade with Key Business Events in Spain and Chapecó

Santa Catarina is positioning itself as a strong player in international business through two major upcoming events that aim to expand trade connections and foster industry innovation. The Federation of Industries of Santa Catarina (FIESC) is organizing an important business meeting in Spain from April 17 to 26 titled 'Encontro de Negócios Espanha x SC – Aliança Estratégica Global: Conectando o Mercado Europeu ao Mercosul.' This event will take place in Madrid and Las Palmas, focusing on the machinery and equipment sectors. It seeks to enhance business opportunities, strengthen networks, and identify potential partnerships for technological cooperation between Santa Catarina and the European markets. In 2025, Santa Catarina exported $98.75 million worth of goods to Spain, including poultry, electric motors, and wood products, while imports from Spain reached $322 million, driven by pigments, olive oil, cosmetics, hair products, and medications. The event includes institutional meetings at production sector entities and the Brazilian embassy in Madrid, as well as technical visits and business meetings in Las Palmas.

Meanwhile, from March 17 to 20, Chapecó will host the 14th Mercoagro, Latin America's largest protein fair, attracting more than 25,000 attendees and featuring 250 exhibitors across 25,000 square meters. This event projects an impressive business volume of US$ 250 million (over R$ 1 billion), generating about 3,000 temporary jobs and injecting R$ 15 million into the local economy. The fair covers the entire animal protein production chain, including refrigeration, industrial automation, ingredients, packaging, and transportation. Notably, delegations from Germany, China, the USA, Spain, the Netherlands, and several Latin American countries will participate, reflecting Mercoagro's international reach. Emphasizing innovation, the fair will unveil an Innovation Hall showcasing 20 startups and innovative companies managed by Pollen Parque Científico e Tecnológico and Seabre-SC. The event also features the 14th International Seminar on Meat Industrialization with expert panels discussing key industry trends.

These events come at a pivotal moment following the Mercosur-European Union free trade agreement, which opens new avenues for Santa Catarina's industries to heighten their international presence. FIESC's initiative aims to tap into strategic synergies while Mercoagro seeks to spotlight the protein sector globally. Together, these efforts underline Santa Catarina's commitment to expanding its external trade footprint, promoting technological advancement, and connecting regional industries to worldwide markets.