Lula: French businesspeople announce BRL 100 billion in investments in Brazil in the next five years

A group of around 15 major French entrepreneurs with businesses in Brazil in a variety of sectors have announced the perspective of investing BRL 100 billion in Brazil by 2030. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva confirmed the signal during a press conference on Saturday, June 7, in Paris. Lula had met with business leaders on Friday as part of his schedule in the French capital. On Saturday, he traveled to Nice to continue his official visit to France.

“We are taking back to Brazil a commitment from the 15 largest French investors — who already have businesses in Brazil — that they will invest BRL 100 billion over the next five years. That is the news,” Lula said. In his view, this is the role expected of a president during international trips: to bring companies and investors closer together, highlight opportunities, and showcase the country’s competitive advantages.

“We must understand that one of the roles of the president is to make things happen. It is not to negotiate, but to create the conditions for our businesspeople and those from the countries we visit to meet, get to know each other, exchange ideas, and build partnerships,” he said, emphasizing that the country must act with its head held high and play an active role in international negotiations.

France is the third-largest source of direct investment in Brazil, with USD 66.34 billion in stock. In 2024, the trade flow between Brazil and France reached USD 9.1 billion, an 8% increase compared to the previous year. It is estimated that over one thousand French companies operate in Brazil, directly generating around 500,000 jobs in the Brazilian market.

According to Lula, there is significant room to expand this trade flow. “It is shameful that a country the size of Brazil—the world’s eighth-largest economy—and a country the size of France—the world’s fifth or sixth-largest—have a trade flow of just USD 9 billion. That is too little. With Vietnam, where our relationship is much more recent, we have a USD 13 billion trade flow. So I am extremely pleased that these 15 French business leaders requested to meet with me. Brazil must position itself as a major country. We are no smaller than anyone.”

HELICOPTERS — Another item on the economic agenda during the meetings in France was the possibility of strengthening an agreement for helicopter production at the Helibras headquarters in Itajubá, Minas Gerais. “Brazil has the only helicopter factory in Latin America. We are interested in an agreement with France that would allow us to produce helicopters to meet their needs in public security, health, defense, and environmental protection,” the Brazilian President explained. “If we put together a large package, Helibras could become a major helicopter manufacturer in Brazil, serving the interests of Latin America, Africa, and potentially other countries—just as we do with EMBRAER’s KC-390, which is now sold in nearly every country around the world,” Lula said, referring to the Brazilian company’s cargo aircraft.

20 ACTS — During the press conference, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira highlighted other initiatives linked to potential investments in Brazil stemming from the agenda in France, which led to the signing of 20 agreements between the two countries. “It is clear that the bilateral relationship has grown in recent years through numerous initiatives in science, technology, innovation, the environment, food security, education, and health. Brazil is working with France on major projects in key areas such as geostationary communication satellites and the Santos Dumont supercomputer. I would also highlight the Franco-Brazilian Center for Amazonian Biodiversity, which we reactivated in 2024 and which will begin funding joint research this year,” Vieira said.

CERTIFICATION — In the economic field, the Brazilian minister also highlighted the certification granted to Brazil as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination—a document issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health in Paris. This milestone has the potential to further expand markets for the sale of Brazilian animal protein. Vieira also emphasized important initiatives in the health sector that strengthen cooperation in vaccine development and laboratory products. “Fiocruz, our top-tier institution, has established new partnerships with French institutions, including the Pasteur Institute,” he said.