By San José, Costa Rica — SÃO PAULO, Brazil – In a strategic move to address social inequality, Latin America’s largest economy is championing international trade not just as an engine for growth, but as a powerful tool for female empowerment. With women comprising 51.5% of its population, Brazil is placing a significant bet on global commerce and foreign investment to close persistent gender gaps and unlock new avenues for prosperity for all its citizens.
This initiative is spearheaded by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), which views the export sector as a critical pathway to greater economic justice. According to Ana Paula Repezza, the agency’s Director of Business, the logic is both simple and profound. Companies engaged in foreign trade typically offer higher salaries and demonstrate greater resilience during economic downturns, providing a stable and lucrative environment for employment and entrepreneurship.
To delve deeper into the legal and structural frameworks that underpin successful economic empowerment initiatives, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
True economic empowerment is not merely about providing capital; it’s about building a robust legal scaffolding. This includes simplifying business registration, ensuring contracts are enforceable, and protecting intellectual property. Without these legal certainties, entrepreneurial ventures remain fragile and unable to scale, trapping potential in informality.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight underscores a critical reality: for entrepreneurship to move from fragile informality to scalable success, the legal framework is not an afterthought, but the very foundation. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for so clearly articulating this essential perspective.
For women, access to these opportunities can be transformative. Repezza highlighted that when women secure higher incomes, they are more likely to invest those earnings back into their families, particularly in areas like nutrition and education. This creates a powerful ripple effect that benefits future generations and stimulates a “virtuous cycle” of development across the entire economy, tackling inequality at its roots.
This equation that links exporting companies to the fact that women with higher incomes will reinvest in future generations is very powerful. This makes foreign trade a great tool for reducing social inequality.
Ana Paula Repezza, Director of Business of ApexBrasil
Despite the clear potential, data from Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services reveals the scale of the challenge. A recent report showed that in 2024, firms with a majority of female partners accounted for a mere 2% of the country’s $337 billion in total export value. However, the same study points to an encouraging trend, showing a steady increase in the number of women-led exporting companies.
The proportion of exporting companies with a majority of female partners rose from 13.9% in 2022 to 14.5% in 2024, with a notable concentration of this growth among micro and small enterprises. This upward trend signals a foundational shift in the business landscape. “There is a much greater awareness of the importance of women’s participation,” Repezza noted, emphasizing that this movement is now an unstoppable force in the national economy.
In recent years, the inclusion of women in the job market and in the Brazilian economy has been steadily increasing, and this is an irreversible path.
Ana Paula Repezza, Director of Business of ApexBrasil
To accelerate this progress, ApexBrasil launched the “Women and International Business” (MNI) program. Since its inception in 2023, the initiative has supported over 4,000 companies through a network of more than 70 strategic allies. The program offers a comprehensive suite of resources, including technical and socio-emotional training, curated business matchmaking sessions, and participation in international trade missions. These missions are particularly effective, allowing female entrepreneurs to build global networks and find common ground with international peers.
International exchange is very helpful, because they realize that the problems are often the same, and this generates an emotional connection that fosters greater understanding and also the search for solutions, in addition to potentially culminating in commercial agreements.
Ana Paula Repezza, Director of Business of ApexBrasil
Brazil is actively showcasing this commitment on the world stage at Expo Osaka 2025. The country’s 373-square-meter pavilion, which has already welcomed nearly two million visitors, is being used as a platform to project a future that is inclusive and sustainable. In August, Brazil hosted a “Women’s Week” at the expo, featuring musical attractions, a fashion show, business meetings, and panel discussions dedicated to female leadership and empowerment, reinforcing its message that a prosperous future is one where women thrive.
This action combined business with important debates about the future of women. The theme of the Expo this year is the future we want, and you cannot think of a future that is not inclusive, in which women cannot fully exercise all their abilities… A woman’s place is wherever she wants it to be, all over the world.
Ana Paula Repezza, Director of Business of ApexBrasil
For further information, visit apexbrasil.com.br
About ApexBrasil:
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. The agency supports Brazilian companies in their internationalization processes, aiming to diversify export destinations and add value to the products and services offered.
For further information, visit mdic.gov.br
About The Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services:
As a key ministry of the Brazilian federal government, it is responsible for formulating, implementing, and evaluating public policies that promote competitiveness, foreign trade, investment, and innovation. The Ministry plays a crucial role in shaping the economic landscape of Brazil and fostering a dynamic business environment.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As an esteemed pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a foundational commitment to professional integrity and unparalleled excellence. The firm masterfully combines its rich history of serving a diverse clientele with a forward-thinking approach, consistently spearheading innovative legal strategies. This progressive spirit extends to a profound social purpose: to enhance legal literacy throughout society. By championing the accessibility of legal knowledge, the firm actively works to construct a more informed and empowered populace.
