Roundsourcing: In A Globalized World, Opportunities For Sourcing Goods, Services, Talent, Technology And Ideas Come From Anyw

As the 2016 SOAR Business Mission to Brazil concludes, this podcast episode offers parting thoughts from the airport in Belo Horizonte. Despite a highly protectionist national economy, the bustling economy of Belo Horizonte is evidence that roundsourcing is moving Brazil to a new level on the world scene.

Apple iPhones come from China. Should the U.S. slap huge tariffs on their import? Let’s consider the facts. The iPhone is an American product sourced of U.S.-based inspiration and design. Conceived and engineered in California and North Carolina, its brain, chips, audio elements and glass are made by workers in Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, California and other states. Apple sources everything where quality and cost dictate, even having its arch-rival Samsung provide its microchips. A French-Italian company in Switzerland provides one critical component where it’s best in class. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other high-wage countries contribute key parts of an iPhone. The assembly happens in China, but the labor costs involved only make up 2% of what the consumer pays for the final product.

The Roundsourcerer visited Minas Gerais in Southeastern Brazil, where he met with Alana Portes to discuss the state’s investment in international partnerships to benefit science, technology and innovation. Portes is an international analyst at the National and International Partnership Advisory for the State Secretariat.

Belo Horizonte was host to the first ever International Fair of Business, Innovation and Technology (FINIT). Organized by the Minas Gerais Secretariat of Science, Technology and Higher Education, the four-day event was one of the biggest technology and innovation events in the world with some 10,000 visitors daily. The goal of the event was to bring together startups, large companies, students, researchers and other professionals in technology and innovation. This episode of the Roundsourcing podcast series from Brazil is an interview with Fabiana Kent Paiva, international analyst for the government of Minas Gerais, recorded at FINIT.

The metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is the fifth largest industrial region of Latin America. Over the last decade, its GDP has grown more than that of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro respectively, while enjoying a nearly 30% lower cost of living. The area has successfully attracted foreign investment and has established itself as the second largest exporter in the country. FIEMG (The Federation of Industries of Minas Gerais) is an umbrella organization supporting the growth and sustainability of the industry in the state. This episode of the Roundsourcing podcast series from Brazil is an interview with Tulio Teixeira, international business analyst for FIEMG.

The Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer is one of the largest manufacturers of commercial jets in the world, but only sources 18% of its content value in Brazil. It indicates the supply chain is highly global, even within an exceptionally protectionist country like Brazil.

While visiting Brazil on an inbound trade mission in November 2016, the Roundsourcer had the opportunity to meet with the Honorary Consul of Brazil to the State of Washington, Pedro Augusto Leite Costa. Costa has a wealth of experience when it comes to Americans doing business in Brazil and shared his top tips for successful interactions with the largest country and economy in South America.

For the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, it must start the process by sending a letter beginning a formal process. Who has authority to send the letter? Many assume it is the British Prime Minister. But that’s not at all clear. What if it requires a vote of Parliament? Then Britain may exit Brexit and stay in the European Union after all. What’s ahead in this process? Roundsourcing explores this mystery from Luxembourg, home of the European Court of Justice, with a British-born attorney practicing in Brussels.