Leonardo Attuch, vice-president of the Foreign Trade Chamber Federation of Brazil (FCCE), and Adair Roberto Carneiro, president of the FCCE, pose for a photograph following Attuch’s appointment. Credit: Handout

NNA News - Brazil is seeking to deepen its economic and institutional relationships with countries of the Global South as the Federation of Foreign Trade Chambers of Brazil (FCCE) expands its international engagement.

The federation has appointed journalist and Brasil 247 founder Leonardo Attuch as its vice-president, with the organisation saying his international networks could help strengthen links between Brazilian businesses and partners across Latin America, Africa, Asia and the wider BRICS community.

The appointment was made by FCCE President Adair Roberto Carneiro, who said Attuch’s experience in international media and his relationships with institutions, think tanks and opinion leaders would support the federation’s efforts to build new partnerships. "Leonardo Attuch’s appointment as vice-president of the Federation of Foreign Trade Chambers represents an important step in strengthening the FCCE’s international activities," Carneiro said.

He added that Attuch’s understanding of geopolitical changes could contribute to expanding Brazil’s relations with countries in the Global South, particularly strategic partners in Latin America, Asia and Africa. The appointment comes at a time when trade, investment, technology and geopolitics are increasingly connected. For the FCCE, expanding foreign trade relationships therefore means looking beyond commercial transactions and developing stronger institutional networks around them.

The federation intends to strengthen dialogue with public policy institutions, universities, think tanks and media organisations, alongside its traditional engagement with companies and chambers of commerce. Attuch’s experience at the helm of Brasil 247 has provided him with relationships across these sectors. The publication has developed an international coverage agenda focused on geopolitical and economic changes, with particular attention to the Global South, the expansion of BRICS and growing cooperation among countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

The FCCE views these relationships as potentially useful in creating new channels between Brazilian businesses and institutions in partner countries. "We want to bring companies, institutions and leaders closer together, open new trade and investment opportunities and build bridges that contribute to an increasingly diversified international presence for Brazil," Carneiro said.

Building bridges beyond trade

For Attuch, the new role represents an opportunity to use his experience in international communication to support closer economic relationships between Brazil and other developing economies. "I accept with great honour the invitation from President Adair Roberto Carneiro to assume the vice-presidency of the Federation of Foreign Trade Chambers (FCCE), while also being aware of the great responsibility that this mission represents," he said.

He said his priorities would include building relationships with countries of the Global South based on dialogue, trust and cooperation. "I want to contribute to building new bridges between Brazil and friendly countries, especially the nations of the Global South, strengthening relations based on dialogue, trust, cooperation and the pursuit of shared development opportunities," Attuch said.

The approach reflects a broader understanding of economic diplomacy. Trade relationships are not built solely through tariffs, contracts and financial flows. They also depend on communication, mutual understanding and long-term institutional relationships. The FCCE said media organisations, universities and think tanks can contribute to this process by creating spaces for dialogue and providing knowledge about the economic, political and social environments in which businesses operate.

A changing global economic landscape

The federation's strategy comes as the global economic landscape continues to change, with Asian economies gaining greater influence, BRICS expanding and African and Latin American countries seeking deeper economic cooperation. Attuch said these changes presented opportunities for Brazil to diversify its international relationships. "We are living through a period of profound transformations in the international order, and I believe Brazil has every condition to expand its economic, commercial and institutional ties with Latin America, Africa, Asia and the other BRICS countries," he said.

Closer relationships with Global South partners could support market diversification, investment, technological exchanges and the international expansion of Brazilian companies, according to the FCCE. The organisation also sees the expansion of BRICS as creating a need for stronger connections between businesses, governments and institutions across its increasingly diverse membership. For the federation, the challenge is to turn growing political and diplomatic engagement into practical economic and institutional partnerships.

From relationships to opportunities

The FCCE intends to bring Brazilian businesses closer to international markets while identifying areas of economic complementarity and opportunities for trade, investment and cooperation. That process is expected to involve companies, chambers of commerce, governments, universities, think tanks and media organisations.

Attuch’s appointment is part of that broader strategy, with his international media experience and relationships expected to support the federation’s efforts to establish new connections across the Global South. For Brazil, the focus is increasingly on building relationships that can translate diplomatic and political engagement into economic opportunities. "Building bridges, bringing peoples closer together and creating opportunities for cooperation will be the spirit of my work at the FCCE," Attuch said.