Participation in Web Summit Rio
On arrival in Rio de Janeiro on 29 April, Mr Caroni and his delegation, consisting of Council of State members Andrea Gmür-Schönenberger (The Centre, LU) and Mathias Zopfi (The Greens, GL), attended Web Summit Rio. At this international event, Mr Caroni opened a panel discussion on international cooperation in innovation and sustainability. He outlined the reasons why Switzerland is a global leader in innovation – particularly thanks to its public-private partnerships – and emphasised Brazil's strategic importance for Swiss companies, given that Switzerland is the third largest foreign investor in the country. Mr Caroni’s speech at Web Summit Rio is part of the Road to Belém programme, an initiative ahead of COP30 that brings together key players from the Swiss network in Brazil, including the Swiss Embassy, consulates general and honorary consulates, Swissnex, Swiss Business Hub, Swiss Leading House St Gallen, SWISSCAM and the private sector.
High-level political meetings
On 30 April, Mr Caroni and his delegation were received in Rio de Janeiro by Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, who is of Swiss origin. The talks focused in particular on the ongoing negotiations between EFTA and Mercosur. Mr Caroni underlined Switzerland's desire for a rapid conclusion of the free trade agreement, stressing that such an agreement would boost trade and encourage private investment between the two countries. He added that the agreement would be subject to a referendum in Switzerland. The discussions also touched on the respective positions of Brazil and Switzerland on the tariffs imposed by the United States, the war in Ukraine and Brazil's priorities during its BRICS presidency in 2025.
The Swiss delegation then travelled to Brasilia, where it was welcomed by President of the Federal Senate Davi Alcolumbre. Mr Alcolumbre expressed the Senate's desire to strengthen its relations with the Swiss Council of States and outlined the main challenges facing the country, including deep social inequalities, public security, health and education. Mr Caroni reaffirmed Switzerland's hope that the negotiations on the free trade agreement between EFTA and Mercosur would be concluded quickly. The Brazilian representatives indicated that they saw no obstacles to the ratification of the agreement by their Senate. At the end of the meeting, Mr Caroni was invited by his counterpart to visit the Senate's plenary chamber, which has 81 seats representing the states of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
Last stop in São Paulo
During the last leg of his visit, in São Paulo, Mr Caroni learned about the activities of the Swiss Consulate General, which brings together several key elements of Switzerland’s presence in Brazil: a Swiss Business Hub, a Swissnex office and a Switzerland Tourism office. He also met with members of the Swiss community and Swiss business leaders, with whom he discussed the economic prospects and opportunities offered by the Brazilian market.