On March 19 US President Barack Obama will arrive in Brazil to discuss a range of issues, including a number of arrangements in relation to the 2014 World Cup and Rio 2016 Olympics. Amongst other things, the US is looking at ways to get involved in the two mega-events and trade its significant expertise in sport and major events.
The Inside the Games website reports that Obama is set to unveil a new financing agreement for US-based companies and US subsidiaries of multinationals to assist with roads and other infrastructure projects in Brazil. A key aspect of the deal will be a "one-stop shop" with a single set of documents and financing conditions for joint ventures, according to the report. The Export-Import Bank of the United States will drive the initiative in conjunction with Brazil´s National Development Bank, with hundreds of millions of dollars to be provided annually.
At the same time, Brazil´s tourism body Embratur continues to ramp up its promotional activities in the US, the latest having been launched at the New York Times Travel Show at the end of February. The latest push aims to educate the tourism industry about new options and initiatives underway in the country, including preparations for the Cup and Games. The US currently accounts for the second greatest number of tourists to Brazil, with 603,674 Americans visiting the country in 2009.