Business · Economy · 1 day ago
Executives say Brazil could attract more foreign investment
Executives from Itaú, Votorantim and BR Partners said Brazil could attract more foreign investment during a panel in Chicago.
Brazil received $85 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025, according to a revised figure from its central bank.
The UN trade agency’s measure put the total at $77 billion, making Brazil the world’s fifth-largest destination that year.
Legal uncertainty, market volatility and high borrowing costs were cited as obstacles, particularly for long-term projects.
The executives also pointed to Brazil’s scale, abundant energy and sector reforms, with infrastructure, health, finance and data centers seen as promising areas.
The country depends on foreign capital because it generates less savings than it needs to fund investment, and the panelists said policymakers should create better conditions for investors.
Executives from Itaú, Votorantim and BR Partners said Brazil could attract more foreign investment if it addressed legal uncertainty, volatility and high capital costs.
Brazil received US$85 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025, according to a revised Central Bank figure.
The executives identified infrastructure, health, financial services and data centres as promising sectors.
They also cited Brazil’s scale, plentiful energy and sector reforms as factors that could attract investors.
The comments came during a panel at the MBA Brasil Conference in Chicago.
- Who
- Itaú CFO Gabriel Moura, Votorantim executive Mauro Ribeiro Neto and BR Partners founder and CEO Ricardo Lacerda.
- What
- They said Brazil could attract more foreign investment, but faces obstacles including legal uncertainty, volatility and high capital costs.
- When
- At a panel whose date was not stated. The article was published on 2026-11-07.
- Where
- The MBA Brasil Conference in Chicago, United States.
- Why
- The executives said Brazil’s investment potential is held back by uncertainty, volatility and high costs, despite advantages such as scale and plentiful energy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Brazil received US$85 billion in foreign direct investment, according to the revised Central Bank figure.
Executives discussed Brazil’s potential to attract more foreign investment at a panel in Chicago.
- Foreign direct investment in Brazil in 2025
- US$85 billion, according to a revised Central Bank figure
- Investment ranking
- Fifth-largest global destination in 2025 under the UNCTAD methodology, which put inflows at US$77 billion
- Panel location
- Chicago, United States
- Promising sectors
- Infrastructure, health, financial services and data centres
- Challenges cited
- Legal uncertainty, volatility and high capital costs
What people are saying
We could have much more if we had stability.
We are not doing a favor by letting foreign investors go to Brazil. We have to create the conditions for them to go.
We forget that capital is highly meritocratic in the choices it makes.
There are many ways to breach a contract while complying with it, by changing interpretations of established legal principles.