With Brazil now the world’s number one emerging economy, companies are being asked whether they are ready to take advantage of the opportunities it can offer.

‘Behind on Brazil?’ is one of a series of questions that UQ Business School is posing to businesses. As the school celebrates its tenth anniversary, it is encouraging them to plan ahead for the challenges and opportunities that the next ten years will bring.

“Brazil has been growing steadily and is now the sixth largest economy in the world, recently surpassing the UK,” says Professor Peter Liesch, Professor of International Business at UQ Business School. “The country has some similarities with Australia. It is looking to define its relationship with the superpowers, it is led by a woman – President Dilma Rousseff – and is heavily reliant on natural resources.

“Brazil has the potential to be a key trading partner for us and offers a lot of potential for Australian businesses, however they need to do their research and consider what they can offer and how they can enter the market.”

Andrew Griffiths, Dean of UQ Business School, added: “UQ Business School aims to ensure Australian businesses are prepared for the decade ahead. Over the next ten years we will be playing a key role in helping them to take advantage of opportunities, adapt to the changing business environment and develop the skills and solutions necessary to support a thriving economy.”

About UQ Business School

The University of Queensland Business School is independently ranked as one of the top business schools in Australia and amongst the leading institutions worldwide. Based in Brisbane, it brings together over 130 subject experts with over 7,000 students and offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs and executive education across the range of business disciplines.

UQ Business School is renowned internationally for the quality of its research and also provides contract research and consultancy services to organisations throughout the world. The teaching – research – consultancy loop is central to its success, ensuring that the school maintains its position at the forefront of academic knowledge while staying closely attuned to modern business requirements. For further information see www.business.uq.edu.au

Fast facts

• UQ Business School was the first in Australia to meet the standards of the world’s two most influential accrediting bodies - the US-based AACSB International and Europe’s EQUIS.
• It is ranked in the world’s top 50 universities for executive education by the Financial Times.
• Its MBA program is rated in the top 50 worldwide by The Economist and in the top two in Australia by the AFR’s BOSS Magazine.
• The MBA course has been awarded the highest possible rating of five stars for seven years running by Australia’s most influential rating body, the GMAA.
• The school was classed as above world standard in its 4 major fields of business research in the Australian government’s ERA assessment