Ireland's access to markets in both the old and new EU states, its contact networks and local knowledge made it an ideal partner for joint ventures with companies from South America, the President, Mrs McAleese, said at a business breakfast here yesterday.
The President was in the financial capital of Brazil which has a population of 18 million.
She told the 30-strong Irish trade delegation, their local partners and contacts that business between the two countries grew by 27 per cent last year, and there was scope for further growth.
One of the companies present yesterday was QMS Software Ltd of Sandymount, Dublin, which has donated 45 software systems to the University of São Paulo for MBA students.
Its managing director, Mr Duncan Styles, said that software had been a tool but now it was to become an academic course and an official part of the curriculum. A thesis supervisor in computer science in Trinity College Dublin, he is delivering a lecture to the students today.
QMS has representation in 15 countries and has just signed a contract with Inter Americana to distribute Ulysses, a suite of business software applications, in Brazil.
It aims to sell €3 million worth of software here in three years.
The President is accompanied by the Irish Ambassador, Mr Martin Greene, and Mr Brian McComish, the honorary consul based in Rio de Janeiro.
Mr McComish, originally from Alliance Avenue, Belfast, came to Brazil in 1970 and has been successful in developing franchise systems for English-language schools and courses.
São Paulo, described as the powerful engine that drives the nation, has a reputation for danger. The President is protected by armed guards everywhere and travels in an armoured car.
Later yesterday she had lunch with the governor of São Paulo, Mr Geraldo Alckmin, at the Palacio Bandeirantes.