AEROMEDICAL TRADE MISSION TO BRAZIL 2024

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According to industry groups in Brazil, the aeromedical sector in Brazil represents a USD 150 million opportunity per year, approximately 3 percent of the global market, and is expected to increase over the coming years.  For reference, according to industry advocacy groups, the global air ambulance services market was valued at USD 5.24 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 14.24 billion by 2030.

According to industry sources and ABOA, there is a steady procurement stream in both the public and private aeromedical subsector. From 2021 to the present, these groups have tracked around USD 140 million in equipment purchases and estimate a yearly market of USD 46 million in MRO.

ITA has never targeted this specific sub-industry with a trade mission in Brazil, so the team has taken an incremental approach to develop the relationship with industry groups in Brazil, namely the Brazil Association of Aeromedical Operators (ABOA). In November 2023, CS Brazil and ABOA conducted a webinar attended by 39 companies introducing the Brazilian aerospace market, medical sector, regulatory environment, and potential opportunities within the sector. The intended goal of this webinarwas to work toward a future trade mission. The webinar included targeted opportunities in the following areas: 

• Aircrafts & helicopters (new & used) adapted for aeromedical applications
• Companies specialized in commercial airplanes and helicopter aeromedical conversions
• Aeromedical drones
• Flight simulation and training for pilots, doctors, and nurses
• Avionic systems applicable in the aeromedical sector
• Medical equipment for aeromedical applications
• Maintenance, repair, and overhaul 
   

Following the successful webinar, many attendees expressed interest in exploring further opportunities in this sector in Brazil.

Between now and the trade mission, the Global Aerospace Team, CS Brazil, and local advocacy groups will continue to promote opportunities in Brazil via webinars, seek capacity-building partners, focus on recruitment, and continue to develop the substantive programming of a trade mission.

Other Products and Services      

The analysis of the areas of opportunity in Brazil is not intended to be exhaustive, but illustrative of the many opportunities available to U.S. businesses in the aeromedical sub-sector. Applications from companies selling products or services within the scope of this mission, but not specifically identified, will be considered and evaluated by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Companies whose products or services do not fit the scope of the mission may contact their local U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) to learn about other business development missions and services that may provide more targeted export opportunities. Companies may go to http://trade.gov to obtain this information.  

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The goal of the Brazil Aeromedical Trade Mission is to introduce U.S. suppliers to the growing aeromedical sector in Brazil, strengthen existing connections between aeromedical suppliers and their Brazilian clients, develop new connections for U.S. companies in the sector, and increase the capacity of Brazilian aeromedical operators, leading to future opportunities for U.S. companies.  

This mission is intended to increase the sales and presence of U.S. goods and services in Brazil’s aeromedical sector. The trade mission will connect U.S. companies directly with the public sector (federal police, fire departments, and the defense secretariat) and private sector (aeromedical operators/outfitters, maintenance repair and overhaul companies, and local business representatives) to sell goods and services in the identified subsectors of aircraft and helicopter sales, medical equipment needed for conversions of existing aircraft, aeromedical drones, flight simulators, and training for pilots, doctors, and nurse crews in aircraft.  

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The local team in Brazil, with the support of the Aerospace and Defense Global Team, will conduct a trade event focused on the following pillars:

• Country briefing on opportunities in the aeromedical sector organized by the U.S. Commercial Service and the Brazilian Aeromedical Association (ABOA).
• Welcome events, networking events, and receptions with the ABOA Board of Directors with top aeromedical operators in Brazil.
• Individual company presentations to Brazilian executives including aeromedical operators, private companies, and public entities including state and municipality authorities, firefighters, military, and federal police.
• Business-to-business and business-to-government matchmaking meetings with Brazilian buyers. 

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*Note: The final schedule and potential site visits will depend on the availability of host government and business officials, specific goals of mission participants, and ground transportation. 

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All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must complete and submit an application package for consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 15 firms and/or trade associations from the application pool will be selected to participate in the mission. 

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After a firm or trade association has been selected to participate in the mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The participation fee for the Brazil Aeromedical Trade Mission will be $3,500 for small or medium-sized enterprises (SME); and $4,500 for large firms or trade associations. The fee for each additional firm representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) is $750.  Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. Interpreter and driver services can be arranged for additional cost. Delegation members will be able to take advantage of U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.

If and when an applicant is selected to participate in a particular mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the designated participation fee below is required. Upon notification of acceptance to participate, those selected have 5 business days to submit payment, or the acceptance may be revoked.  

Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay for the cost of personal expenses, including, but not limited to, international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, communication, and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the event that a mission is canceled, no personal expenses paid in anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation fees for a canceled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have not already been expended in anticipation of the mission.

If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying for and obtaining such a visa will be the responsibility of the mission participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such a visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the procedures required to obtain business visas. (Note: Visas will be required for U.S. citizens traveling to Brazil, effective April 2024.)

Trade Mission members participate in trade missions and undertake mission-related travel at their own risk. The nature of the security situation in a given foreign market at a given time cannot be guaranteed.  The U.S. Government does not make any representations or guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. The U.S. Department of State issues U.S. Government international travel alerts and warnings for U.S. citizens available at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html.  Any question regarding insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and  insurer of choice. 

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Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application and supplemental application materials, including adequate information on their products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals for participation that is adequate to allow the Department of Commerce to evaluate their application. If the Department of Commerce receives an incomplete application, the Department may either: reject the application, request additional information/clarification, or take the lack of information into account when evaluating the application. If the requisite minimum number of participants is not selected for a particular mission by the recruitment deadline, the mission may be canceled.  

Each applicant must also certify that the products and services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in the United States, or, if not, are marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least fifty-one percent U.S. content by value. In the case of a trade association or organization, the applicant must certify that, for each firm or service provider to be represented by the association/organization, the products and/or services the represented firm or service provider seeks to export are either produced in the United States or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51% U.S. content.

A trade association/organization applicant must certify to the above for all of the companies it seeks to represent on the mission.

In addition, each applicant must:

• Certify that the products and services that it wishes to market through the mission would be in compliance with U.S. export controls and regulations;  
• Certify that it has identified any matter pending before any bureau or office in the Department of Commerce;  
• Certify that it has identified any pending litigation (including any administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that involves the Department of Commerce; and  
• Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates (1) have not and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in connection with a company’s/participant’s involvement in this mission, and (2) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of foreign officials.

In the case of a trade association/organization, the applicant must certify that each firm or service provider to be represented by the association/organization can make the above certifications. 

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Targeted mission participants are U.S. firms, services providers and trade associations/organizations providing or promoting U.S. products and services that have an interest in entering or expanding their business in the mission’s destination country. The following criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:

• Suitability of the applicant’s (or in the case of a trade association/organization, represented firm’s or service provider’s) products or services to these markets;  
• The applicant’s (or in the case of a trade association/organization, represented firm’s or service provider’s) potential for business in the markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission; and
• Consistency of the applicant’s (or in the case of a trade association/organization, represented firm’s or service provider’s) goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission.

Balance of company size and location may also be considered during the review process.

Referrals from a political party or partisan political group or any information, including on the application, containing references to political contributions or other partisan political activities will be excluded from the application and will not be considered during the selection process. The sender will be notified of these exclusions.

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Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar (http://export.gov/trademissions) and other Internet websites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than July 15, 2024. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants of selection decisions on a ROLLING basis. Applications received after August 5, 2024, will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.