Cassiano Pereira Viana, city — Brasília, President of the Brazil-Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
About myself
I am a lawyer and entrepreneur. Since graduating from university, I have worked with foreign governments in Brazil: with Belgium, France, Peru, Italy, Austria, the USA. I have serious experience in the field of international relations, almost 40 years. I also have a law firm, which is active in this direction. Today we work as a private advisory board at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Brazil. We help understand the business environment and build interactions.
In 2014, together with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Brazil, we began discussing the creation of a Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Then we established the Chamber and signed a memorandum of understanding with Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Two years later, the Ambassador suggested that I focus only on Kazakhstan. Therefore, in September 2016, I became president of the Brazil-Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I have been working with Kazakhstan for more than 10 years, and during this time I have cooperated with three Ambassadors.
About activities
Today I conduct dialogue with all key sectors of the economy of Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and Brazil. Since 2023, thanks to the active support of the current ambassador, the Chamber has gained new momentum. The Ambassador does a great job promoting the image of Kazakhstan in Brazil and throughout South America.
The Chamber represents one of the large Brazilian companies producing electrical equipment — WEG. There are also other companies showing interest in the country. For example, Marcopolo — bus manufacturers, Embraer — an aerospace conglomerate, as well as companies in the food industry and agritech.
After many years of fruitful work with the embassy, we have achieved significant results. This year I invited Madina from Astana to become our co-chairwoman. Now she is the President of the Brazil-Kazakhstan Chamber on the side of Kazakhstan. Managing such an organization between two distant countries is difficult, logistics are not simple, but we continue the work with enthusiasm. Because Kazakhs and Brazilians are similar — we are family-oriented, open, hardworking, and honest people.
About Central Asia
I have never been to Kazakhstan yet. There were opportunities, but each time something unforeseen arose. But the essence of our work is not in trips, but in support and understanding each other. My job is to help Kazakhstani companies enter the Brazilian market.
I hope this fall I can come to Kazakhstan for a couple of months — to see partners, friends, try local cuisine, and listen to beautiful music.
Kazakhstan is already in my heart. I have always admired the country’s history. There is a wonderful film — “Nomads”, it touched me. This film perfectly reflects the essence of Kazakh culture and people. We love it in Brazil.
Activities in Central Asia
Through the Chamber, I communicate with other Chambers of Commerce of Kazakhstan around the world. We are trying to create a global network — to unite all Chambers of Kazakhstan into one common structure, to work coherently. We receive many requests from all over the world — interest in Kazakhstan is enormous. Brazil is a leader in South America, Kazakhstan is a leader in Central Asia. Our countries are of utmost importance in their regions. We are both agricultural and mining powers, and we simply must cooperate.
If we talk about key areas of cooperation between our countries, the first is the mining industry. The Kazakhstani company Eurasian Resources Group invested about two billion dollars in Brazil and is developing five iron ore deposits there. Technology is also important — IT, fintech, electric vehicles. We cooperate closely with the Kazakh scientist Sanzhar Taizhan, who lives in London and is considered one of the leading specialists in batteries for electric cars.
Next are agriculture, oil and gas, government initiatives, and logistics. The Brazilian aerospace company Embraer can play a major role — we are working to create Embraer production in Kazakhstan. Companies such as Tramontina — kitchenware manufacturer, Petrobras — oil and gas company, Vale do Rio Doce — mining giant, are considering returning or entering the Kazakhstan market. In the past, Vale already worked in Kazakhstan, now negotiations are underway to resume cooperation.
We are beginning to receive requests from Kazakhstani entrepreneurs. The path is long, the distance between countries is enormous, but Kazakhstan is discovering Brazil, and Brazil is discovering Kazakhstan.
Brazil is one of the largest coffee suppliers in the world. And we have a project to open Brazilian coffee chains in Kazakhstan. Also, we have açaí — a unique berry from the Amazon. At the moment, a project is being developed to export açaí to Kazakhstan. It has already become a real hit worldwide.
My main goal is to create a strong and sustainable Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Astana and Almaty. We plan large business forums with the participation of company presidents from Kazakhstan and Brazil. We also want to invite the entire Central Asian region with the support and priority role of Kazakhstan.