Page 96 - InvestmentGuideBrasilEng

Small Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are by Support for
far the most common types of companies in Brazil
Business and throughout Latin America. Innovation
In Brazil, small and medium enterprises are
more commonly referred to as micro and small en-
Support terprises. Micro enterprises are those with gross The Brazilian Innovation Agency (FINEP) is a
annual revenues of up to R$360.000,00. Small
enterprises are those with gross annual revenues
between R$ 360.000,00 and R$3.6 million. public corporation attached to the Ministry of
Science, Technology and Innovation and has ac-
Holders of permanent visas can open a small cumulated vast experience in supporting Brazil’s
business. Holders of other visa categories are not S&T and innovation ecosystem since it was es-
automatically entitled to open a small business tablished in 1967. FINEP’s objective is to provide
under Brazilian law. support at every stage of the innovation process,
ranging from basic research through to sales of
products, services and processes. FINEP's focus is
BRAZILIAN SUPPORT on strategic activities aimed at promoting trans-
formative, sustainable economic development in
SERVICE FOR MICRO AND Brazil through innovation.
FINEP provides support to Brazil-based com-
SMALL ENTERPRISES panies, as well as to public and private higher ed-
ucation establishments and research institutes. It
(SEBRAE) TAXATION works through a number of tools, which can in-
clude loans and subsidies to companies, grants to
research institutes and direct equity support for
companies.
SEBRAE is a private entity of public interest dedi- Small businesses are eligible to participate in a Between 1999 and 2012, FINEP's budget has
cated to supporting entrepreneurship in Brazil by simplified taxation system created in 2006 called increased by over 600%, from just under $4 mil-
assisting in the establishment and expansion of Simples Nacional. This system allows participat- lion in 1999 to $3 billion in 2012.
small businesses. It operates at arm’s length from ing companies to consolidate almost all compa- FINEP's current priority areas are:
the government and is part of Brazil’s network of ny taxes levied by all three levels of government
professional training agencies (the ‘S’-System). (federal, state and municipal) into one monthly ? Defense and aerospace
SEBRAE is an essential support partner for for- payment, as well as granting participating com-
eign entrepreneurs seeking to establish a small panies several tax incentives or reductions. ? Healthcare
business presence in Brazil. The agency provides
entrepreneurs with quality information and trou- ? Information and communications technology
bleshooting on doing business in Brazil.
SEBRAE provides support to small businesses ? Oil, gas and naval industries
through designing and delivering training pro-
grams, distributing technical information on the ? Renewable energy
local market, business management, sales, etc.
and providing group and individual consulting ? Social development and assistive technology
services in areas such as management, human re-
sources, market access, access to technology, in-
novation support and access to financial services.
Contact with SEBRAE can be made from the
entrepreneur’s home market by e-mail, or in per-
son at one of SEBRAE’s offices located througout
Brazil. All contact with SEBRAE needs to be made
in Portuguese, as the agency is entirely focused on
the domestic market in Brazil.
For more information, visit www.sebrae.com.br
(in Portuguese with some information in English
and Spanish).
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