COMPANIES: Gerdau is Brazil’s most globalized company

SÃO PAULO, 10/25/06 - A ranking compiled by Brazilian foundation Dom Cabral and by Columbia University shows Gerdau, Norberto Odebrecht, Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), Petrobras and Marcopolo were the most globalized Brazilian companies in 2005.

SÃO PAULO, 10/25/06 - A ranking compiled by Brazilian foundation Dom Cabral and by Columbia University shows that steel maker Gerdau, construction company Norberto Odebrecht, mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD), state-run oil giant Petrobras and bus manufacturer Marcopolo were the most globalized Brazilian companies in 2005. The survey was based on criteria such as overseas assets and human resources.

Gerdau came in first, while Odebrecht came in second, CVRD in third (although the recent acquisition of Canadian Inco will change CVRD’s position) and Petrobras came in fourth. The latter plans to invest US$87 billion between 2007 and 2011, of which US$12.1 billion will be in its overseas operations.

The increase in the number of Brazilian globalized companies has helped Brazil rise to the 6th position in the Unctad ranking of emerging economies that most invest abroad.

(Simone Cavalcanti/ DCooke - InvestNews)