The International Fuel and Ethanol Workshop and Expo (FEW Expo) took place on the 14^th to the 16^th of June in St. Louis, Missouri. The Trade and Investment Department participated in the trade show by organizing a Brazilian booth and ethanol seminar.

 

Around 50 producers, manufacturers and researchers visited the booth each day to gather information and materials, watch a DVD on Petrobras’ biofuels program- which played continuously in the booth- and to express their business interests in Brazil. Many of these visitors had already traveled to Brazil on business yet continued to show interest in opening factories or in transferring technology to and from Brazil. Overall, visitors from Minnesota and Illinois had the strongest presence at the booth.   

 

At the conclusion of the FEW Expo, the Trade and Investment Department organized a workshop on Brazilian ethanol. The workshop attracted a diverse group of investors and business people, most of whom had previously visited the booth, as well as two representatives from the Biofuels Department of the Brazilian Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES). The workshop was presented in four parts, the first being an overview, provided by Ambassador João Almino, on the history and policy of ethanol in Brazil and the importance of bi-lateral cooperation. During the second segment, a representative from the Trade and Investment Department outlined the ethanol industry and plants in Brazil. The third and fourth presentations were given by Mr. Fernando Spohr, Branding and Market Intelligence Coordinator of Apex-Miami, and Mr. Greg Gruning, Vice President of Sales of the Indy Racing League, explaining the Brazilian ethanol project at the Indy 500. 

 

For more information, please visit the web site: http://fuelethanolworkshop.com.