"Brazil is an Energy Superpower," Brasilinvest Boss Mario Garnero Addresses CSIS in Washington

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mario Garnero, Chairman of Brasilinvest, Brazil's pioneer merchant bank, stated yesterday in Washington during a Conference at CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) that Brazil's leadership in the so-called "pre-salt oil" and biofuels is driving it to a stalwart position in global affairs.

Garnero's address "Energy and Development Nexus: A Case Study of Ethanol and Brazil" was moderated by Stephen Johnson, Director of the Americas Program, and Sarah Ladislaw, Senior Fellow of the Energy and National Security Program at CSIS. He was introduced to the audience by Daniel Runde, CSIS Director of the Project on Prosperity and Development and William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis.  

Founded in 1962, CSIS has grown to become one of the world's preeminent international policy institutions, focused on defense and security, regional stability, and transnational challenges ranging from energy and climate to global development and economic integration.

"Mario Garnero is a pioneer of biofuels. As former President of the ANFAVEA, he successfully convinced companies in Brazil to begin producing ethanol fuel-based vehicles when Brazil was experiencing a severe petroleum crisis," said Stephen Johnson. For Daniel Runde, Garnero came to CSIS "with decades of experience in investing in businesses and attracting foreign investment to Brazil. He firmly believes in harnessing the power of the private sector to bring opportunity. His company, BrasilInvest, has attracted US$12 billion in foreign investment to Brazilian-based companies."

Today nearly 80% of Brazil's cars run on flex-fuel engines. "Biodiesel and aviation applications are also leading the way to the future," Garnero suggests. "Deep-water oil reserves discovered along Brazil´s shores will also help propel Brazil to the rank of an energy superpower," Garnero indicated. "It is such a tough challenge that the R&D involved will produce major positive effects to Brazil's technological capacities," he added.

Garnero argues for an expanded cooperation and trade in biofuels between US and Brazil. "There is a lot we can build on the 2007 MOU between the US and Brazil on Ethanol. New and clean energies are a great platform to re-launch hemispheric cooperation." Garnero is to chair a major international conference on Biofuels and the Green Economy at the Harvard Club in New York on 26 September 2011.

CONTACT:
Anamelia Meirelles
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SOURCE Forum das Americas