Home In this month when International Women’s Day is celebrated, Think Plastic Brazil, a
portfolio of solutions that support the converted plastic products sector in the internationalization process for target markets, through a partnership between ApexBrasil (Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency) and the INP (National Plastic Institute), accepted the invitation from the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) and signed an agreement in support of the Gender Equality Commitment and the International Women’s Program. ApexBrasil seeks to develop a new culture, in which gender parity is incorporated as a prerequisite for the activities carried out by both the Agency and its partners.
The portfolio has already been working towards gender equality and one of the results achieved is the female presence in 50% of the seats occupied in its Management Committee, in addition to being one of the first entities to debate the topic, promoting a round table last year. Furthermore, in Color Trend 2024, developed by renowned designer Jum Nakao, the color chosen for the month was Guava, a very light shade of pink, also in honor of women.
Carlos Moreira, executive director of the National Plastics Institute (INP) and Think Plastic Brazil projects, emphasizes that gender parity must be incorporated as a prerequisite for the activities developed by the portfolio. “We consider that this is not only a question of social justice, but also of economic sustainability. By ensuring diversity and equal participation, we create an environment richer in ideas, innovations and solutions for Brazil and the world”, he highlights.
Read the full Support Letter below
“The search for equal opportunities and respect for all people, regardless of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, religious belief, origin or social position, or any other socio-cultural condition or aspect, is one of our commitments in ApexBrasil’s management and business. Valuing diversity and promoting non-discrimination is expressed in the Agency’s Code of Ethics and Compliance Program and guides us in achieving a fairer, more supportive and sustainable society.
Among these human rights precepts, today we want to reinforce ApexBrasil’s commitment to gender equity in its workforce and in the execution of its institutional mission, in order to promote greater participation of women in the Agency’s governance, as well as in the economic global structure, encouraging and supporting more women to work in international business.
We believe that the presence of more women in exporting, internationalization and attracting foreign investment is fundamental to the development of a sustainable global economy. In addition to this commitment being a means of institutionally recognizing the relevance of the topic for the Agency, it is also an opportunity to remember the key role that the economist, former minister and former president of ApexBrasil, Dr. Dorothea Werneck had in managing the Agency. During her work at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, between 1995 and 1996, she helped in the design of an export promotion agency focused on small entrepreneurs, marked by dynamism and focus on results, and here we are today honoring her legacy.
In this way, considering:
- ApexBrasil’s commitment to gender equity within its own organizational structure, mainly regarding the equal participation of women in leadership positions at the Agency, and that we believe that this inclusion and diversity proposal should also extend to the end actions of the Agency;
– The importance of incorporating a gender perspective in promoting exports, internationalization and attracting foreign investment and, consequently, promoting inclusive and sustainable global economic development, in order to distribute its benefits among all, offering equal opportunities to men and women in the job market and international business;
- Goal number 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which seeks to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls;
- The Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment, on the occasion of the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Buenos Aires, in December 2017, whose objective is to achieve the elimination of barriers to women’s economic empowerment and increase women’s participation in international trade;
- ApexBrasil’s ability to influence and impact its work team, its customers, partners and suppliers, encouraging responsible social and business conduct, in order to promote a fairer and more diverse work and international business environment;
ApexBrasil is committed to:
- Adopt, maintain and effectively implement gender equity laws, regulations, policies and good practices in its management and in the execution of its institutional mission;
- Disseminate gender equity policies and practices among its work team, customers, partners and suppliers, and develop their capabilities in this area, with the aim of achieving equal rights, treatment and opportunities between men and women and eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women;
- Promote better access for women to international business opportunities in actions carried out or supported by the Agency, helping to overcome technical and discriminatory obstacles, through the Women in International Business project, which will be launched within 90 days from this date;
- Carry out cooperative activities with public and private, national and international institutions, to improve the capabilities and conditions of women, including workers, executives, businesswomen and entrepreneurs, to access and fully benefit from the opportunities created for their employees at the Agency and for its customers and partnerships in the global market; and
- Communicate broadly, voluntarily, clearly and transparently the implementation of these commitments on its institutional website or in specific monitoring reports.
Brasília, March 13, 2023.”
About Think Plastic Brazil
Think Plastic Brazil was created in December 2003, when the Brazilian integrated plastics chain was selected as one of the 10 largest in the world, recognized for its high technology and the capacity of its human resources. The project is carried out in partnership with ApexBrasil (Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency), under the coordination of the National Plastics Institute (INP), to promote the export of processed plastic products. www.thinkplasticbrazil.com
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. To achieve its objectives, ApexBrasil carries out diversified trade promotion actions aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and commercial missions, business rounds, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits of foreign buyers and opinion makers to learn about the Brazilian production structure, among other business platforms that also aim to strengthen the Brazil brand.
