The Central Florida Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce (CFBACC) held in Orlando the CFBACC Investment Forum 2026, an event that brought together diplomatic authorities, representatives of development institutions and executives from the financial sector to discuss strengthening economic ties between Brazil and the United States. The forum took place at the Kia Center and had City National Bank of Florida as Master Sponsor, a partnership considered strategic for strengthening the investment ecosystem in the region.
Among the participants were Ambassador João Lucas Quental Novaes de Almeida, Consul General of Brazil in Orlando; Rodrigo Santiago, Vice President of FIRJAN; Carlo Barbierii, President of the Brazil SouthWest Florida Chamber of Commerce; Derek Ephrem, from Orlando Economic Partnership; Fernando Spohr, from ApexBrasil; Ralph Tejada, from City National Bank of Florida; Guilherme Cunha, from the Seminole County government; and Vanessa Caetano Salmeron, Founder and CEO of Mídia América Group and Director of Network and Relations at ABI Inter in the United States.
Throughout the presentations, the participants discussed policies, instruments and institutions that facilitate international investment and the internationalization of companies from the industry, services, technology and innovation sectors operating in Florida. The discussions reinforced that Central Florida is consolidating itself not only as a dynamic market, but as a strategic gateway for companies seeking to expand international presence, access new markets, attract capital and establish operations in the United States.
In an official statement, CFBACC declared that the event reaffirmed the power of dialogue, strategic partnerships and institutional cooperation to transform opportunities into investment, investment into jobs and prosperity, and international connections into sustainable economic growth. The entity thanked the speakers for their contribution and highlighted that the shared content should generate lasting impact for investors and companies evaluating opportunities in the state.
