Bruno Bocchini
Reporter Agência Brasil

São Paulo – Direct foreign investment in Brazil in 2004 totalled almost US$18.2 billion, an increase of 79% over 2003. That put the country in 10th place worldwide as a receptor of direct foreign investments, up from 15th place in 2003. Among developing nations, Brazil was in third place, behind China and Hong Kong.

In Latin America, Brazil was the number one direct foreign investment destination, accounting for 27% of all such investments in the region, followed by Mexico (25%) and Chile (11%).

The biggest investors in Brazil in 2004 were Holland (US$6.7 billion) and the US (US$2 billion).Most of the investments went to the food and beverages, and auto, industries, followed by the services sector.

Translator: Allen Bennett