Brazil's US$ 10 billion IT industry is the world's seventh biggest, making it only slightly smaller than India's. Today, it is estimated that Brazil only exports 1.5% of its IT industry production. However, the government and private sector are investing heavily in global promotion of Brazilian capabilities with the goal of increasing exports to US$ 2 billion by 2007.

"Exports are now at around $300 million. It is a very ambitious target, but the private sector tells us it's possible," said Luiz Fernando Furlan, minister of Development, Industry and Commerce. "We have all the conditions to be a player in the world software market. We have a good infrastructure of telecommunications and energy. We have the domestic market. We have more than 6,000 PhDs in technology coming out every year. The cost of production in Brazil is much lower than U.S., Europe, and Japan. We can deal with Europe and Japan in the daylight."

Renata Sanches, IT project manager for Apex-Brazil, believes the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo is strategic to disseminate knowledge about Brazil as a highly technological country "and to show this very specialized audience that our IT industry is well prepared, with competitive and qualified products and services." "This has been called one of the world's best kept secret, and it is our intention that everyone hears about it," said Ms. Sanches.

The companies represented by Brazil IT have as their goal closing over US$ 30 million worth of deals during the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2005, compared to US$ 27.7 million last year.

There are several reasons to believe that Brazil has the necessary conditions to be a major player in the global IT sector:
Software: Brazil has long been a pioneer in the development of solutions in banking systems and e-government.
IT Services: Brazil offers near-shore IT Services in a wide range of industry sectors.
Quality: Brazil's US$ 10 billion digital economy is led by world class talent.
Pricing: Decreased IT costs when compared to developed nations.
Time Zone: Brazil is only one time zone away from New York.
Labor force: Brazil offers specialized, qualified and creative technicians.
Stability: As well as an established democracy, Brazil has a better geopolitical standing than many Asian countries that today lead the outsourcing market.

Brazil IT
Launched in 2004, the Brazil IT brand represents hundreds of Brazilian IT companies interested in promoting Brazil as the next stop in the global rush for competitive software development services and information technology market growth. If you want to enhance the value and quality of your IT development and services through the use of Brazilian services providers: "Brazil it!"

For more information on the companies participating at the Gartner Symposium ITxpo visit www.brazil-it.com. To schedule interviews with Brazilian IT executives, please contact Flavia Sekles at the Brazil Information Center (202) 471-4020 or (202) 423-3080 (for the duration of the Gartner Symposium ITxpo – Oct 16th to the 21st).