Paulo Henrique Rage*

In the 17th century, the first "bandeirantes" started to leave the Brazilian coast to explore the interior of the country looking for mineral resources, specially, for the gold. In their journey for richness, the explorers found a region with fertile soil, exuberant Atlantic Forest and rich mineral resources, which they called Minas Gerais, which means "General Mines". More than three centuries latter, this same region still has some of the greatest mines of the world and is the home place for some of the most powerful mining and siderurgical companies of the planet.

With the approximated size of France and with the second largest population of the country, Minas Gerais first attracts world’s attention because of its natural beauty. The State is located strategically in the heart of Brazil, having in its territory riches and different ecosystems at each of its regions, where can be found a wise hydrograph, fertile terrain, many natural resources and a very developed agribusiness, what makes the State to be considered Brazil’s "warehouse".

Besides the primary sector, Minas Gerais has one of the largest and more diversified Industrial Parks of the country, what puts the State in a good position between the highest GDPs in all Latin America, which’s size (U$ 100bi) can be compared to whole countries as: Pakistan, Peru, Egypt, Ukraine, New Zealand, etc.

The Services sector is also very developed at the State. The capital, Belo Horizonte, is the third biggest metropolitan center of the country with more than 5 million people and is a national reference regarding I.T. companies, financial services and business management development, what is mainly due to the presence of some of the most famous Universities and Business Schools of Latin America.

Since of the beginning of the 21th century, the State has presented one of the highest GDP growing rates of Brazil, what made it grew the double of the whole country at this period. Due to its outstanding growing and due to the fact of the great development of the Services sector, cumulated to the global position and its geographic conditions, the State has been chosen by numerous foreign companies to host its investments and its headquarters. Minas Gerais has perfect conditions and is starting to be globally recognized as the World’s Services Center for the Portuguese Languages and Latin American Countries as well as it is consolidating, each year, its economic success. Definitely, Minas Gerais is the Brazilian perfect destination to host foreign investments and to host head offices of the companies who are interested in both Latin American and African countries.

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*Manager of Institucional Affairs of Manucci Law Firm. Founder-Partner of the Brazil-Mozambique Chamber of Commerce