Former British Consul in Minas Gerais, Lucas Browne points out the synergies and opportunities between the country and the UK
Credit: Rafael Sandem/Divulgação
“Quase um consul of Minas Gerais in England.” Asim is known as the former British Consul in Minas Gerais, Lucas Browne. After spending four years as consul in Belo Horizonte and heading the consular corps in the capital, Minas Gerais, it is certain that he has completed his mission, and the subject of King Charles III leaves the function of state and returns to private initiative.
Wearing soft shoes that don’t get in the way of communication and a hard-working and restless spirit, he says he is stuck in Minas Gerais or his place in the world and still has a secret about where he will work, which he is sure will continue to foster relations and business between the UK and Minas Gerais.
In a candid conversation with DIÁRIO DO COMÉRCIO, Lucas Braun spoke about his achievements in front of British Consulate It enhances synergies and opportunities between the markets of Minas Gerais and England.
Many people still do not know or have doubts about what a consul does. Can you explain some of your work in Belo Horizonte?
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Eu vim for brazil in the private sector and dai it was a calculated risk to enter the consulate and enter this position. My Brazilian daughter is the one I teach Portuguese at home. Esu clearly had a great advantage. My argument during the interview was that I speak Portuguese and understand how to do business in Brazil. Since this position was an activity with two dreams: to work with different business sectors with a very interesting situation. Many consulates play a greater cultural and social role. In the case of the British Consulate here in Minas Gerais, we have chosen to work on the economic aspects of the relationship. Our mission was to identify and promote business opportunities between Minas Gerais and the United Kingdom to develop each other and strengthen the historical ties that unite us.
And what opportunities do you discover along with the traditions associated with it Goods?
I have always tried to be very practical in terms of activating and understanding what can attract investment and generate business here and here. Most of the world is looking for a green economy and seeking to seize opportunities that are no longer in its direction. We have all learned about Brazil’s natural potential and learned that Minas Gerais is seizing and seizing many of these opportunities. It is a fantastic mission to bring the opportunities available in Minas Gerais to the UK. I think he was a mining consul for the British. I have worked hard with Fiemg (Federação das Indústrias do Estado de Minas Gerais), who does excellent communication. See, for example, Brazil’s energy matrix is not only one of the cleanest in the world, but one of the most diverse. Last year I learned that more than 95% of the energy matrix in Minas Gerais comes from renewable sources. So, this is very important and needs to be said. It is very important to communicate these facts at the international level because it opens doors.
But to communicate well, especially in the business world, you have to have data. We know that this is still a difficulty in Brazil. As Lidou com esses entraves?
It was difficult, but I sought out good friends like Femge, whom I never mentioned. One of our main goals is to support economic diversification. Isso não I want to say the disadvantage as Goods Agricultural and mining. On the contrary, mining will become more and more important as a strategic mineral. It is clear that due to mining tragedies (the bridge break in Mariana, in 2015, and in Brumadinho, in 2019) there is a lack of confidence among international investors. But we now understand that there will be no energy transition without the development of very complex technologies, such as solar panels or wind turbines, and without strategic mining targets. Now the state of Minas Gerais has a great opportunity to change this narrative. The state of Minas Gerais has a great opportunity not only to extract strategic minerals, but also to be a leader in Latin America, and perhaps in the world regarding these heavy industries.
Brazil is going through a very exciting moment, as it holds the G20 Presidency and holds the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties in the Amazon region. How did the UK see that moment?
Or that Brazil is not really the center of international attention. It is an opportunity for the state to take care of its reputation. There are still many things about Brazil that are poorly conveyed. We as people don’t know that Minas Gerais is a country the size of France, or the second industrialized country, or the third richest, with three biomes that are completely different from each other. The opportunities here are very diverse. That’s why it’s a great opportunity to network.
Trade relations between the United Kingdom and Minas Gerais are historic. Isso facilitating or supporting two projects?
The first British investment in Brazil was in the state of Minas Gerais: a gold mine in Nova Lima. For over a century there have been hundreds of Britons living in Nova Lima and it has a very strong culinary heritage and religion. Obviously, since things are not moving fast, there is a connection with trade that is about the future, culture and talent generation. One of the two projects we are most proud of is the implementation of the first official bilingual school in the city, with the possibility of expanding to include all integrated schools in the municipality. When the future is not 20 years away, it is now in 2030. It is possible for Brazilian professionals to speak English. During the epidemic everyone ficou Connected It opened a lot of doors for professionals to work in companies in other countries and stay in Brazil.
An important question around the world is training and retaining a qualified workforce. Europe has just turned the corner on the age pyramid and there are not many people available to qualify. Brazil does not go through the same process, but it also has a large pool of untrained workers who can be trained. Do you think we can turn this school gap into a difference, and will we be able to accelerate the educational process in Brazil?
Brazil may have a great opportunity to invest mainly in technical training. In the UK, it has taken a long time to understand that not all professionals have to go to university. But for this, or technical training, it is necessary to present a very clear career plan. So, I was very impressed by the Sinai network, for example, where there are thousands of students in schools in all regions of Minas Gerais. Britons can invest in the education sector, contribute to reducing inequality and do good business.
Você deixa now or consulate. What are your plans?
I’d rather not hesitate about where I’m going, but it’s definitely in Minas Gerais. I have a four-month-old baby at home. Minas Gerais will be a part of my life forever, and I am very happy, because the quality of life I have here is good. Minas Gerais has great potential and I want to be part of its history, not in the private sector now.
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