In August 2025, Arhipelago organized the Afaceri.ro Bootcamp in Brazil, bringing Romanian entrepreneurs face-to-face with some of the most dynamic business ecosystems in Latin America. As a proud member of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), our mission is to leverage international opportunities and open doors for Romanian and European companies in high-potential markets. The Amazon proved to be one such market—surprising not only through its biodiversity, but also through its industrial and entrepreneurial dynamism.
SUFRAMA: Stability and incentives in the heart of the Amazon
One of the highlights of the program was the visit to SUFRAMA (Superintendência da Zona Franca de Manaus), the institution that manages the Manaus Free Trade Zone. Established decades ago, SUFRAMA has become a model of industrial development by combining generous fiscal incentives with a strong commitment to regional integration and sustainability.
Companies located in the Free Trade Zone benefit from tax exemptions and reductions on imports, domestic sales, and investments. Even more importantly, these advantages are constitutionally guaranteed until 2073, offering investors a rare degree of long-term security. It comes as no surprise that over 500 international companies from sectors such as electronics, telecommunications, automotive, and biotechnology have already established operations here.
For European companies, these policies translate into predictable frameworks for investment and a stable entry point into Latin America’s largest economy. With Brazil representing more than 50% of South America’s GDP and showing robust demand in sectors like renewable energy, IT, agritech, and advanced manufacturing, the Manaus Free Trade Zone is a strategic gateway for companies interested in production, logistics, and access to new consumer markets.
The bioeconomy advantage
What makes Manaus particularly relevant to European businesses is its emphasis on the bioeconomy and ESG standards. Through the “ZFM + ESG” initiative, companies are encouraged to align with sustainability principles while tapping into the Amazon’s extraordinary biodiversity. The region is becoming a hub for innovation in bioactives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, functional foods, and green energy.
For European firms with expertise in R&D, biotech, clean energy, and sustainable value chains, this creates opportunities for partnerships, technology transfer, and co-development of new products. The combination of natural resources and a clear regulatory push toward ESG compliance positions the Amazon as a laboratory for global sustainability solutions.
Amazônia Venture Builder: Innovation meets impact
The delegation also visited Amazônia Venture Builder, one of the most dynamic startup ecosystems in Latin America. Here, startups, investors, corporations, and universities collaborate to turn local challenges into scalable solutions. Innovation marathons play a central role, rapidly transforming ideas into prototypes tested on the ground.
This model is highly relevant for European companies and investors interested in open innovation, joint ventures, and impact-driven entrepreneurship. With Brazil producing a fast-growing class of digital entrepreneurs and boasting one of the largest consumer markets for technology in the world, the Amazon region is an entry point into a highly innovative and youthful business environment.
Why It matters for European entrepreneurs
For our delegation, the Amazon was not just an exotic destination, but rather a discovery of concrete business opportunities. The region combines:
- stable public policies (long-term fiscal guarantees until 2073),
- attractive incentives for foreign investors,
- rich human capital supported by strong links between academia and industry, and
- unique natural resources driving innovation in the bioeconomy.
For European companies, these conditions open doors to partnerships in manufacturing, green technologies, bio-based industries, IT, and startup collaboration. Moreover, Brazil’s scale and leadership in South America make it an ideal base for companies aiming to expand into wider Latin American markets.
Through trade missions and bootcamps, Arhipelago and the Afaceri.ro platform connect Romanian and European entrepreneurs with these opportunities, facilitating B2B partnerships, joint ventures, and cross-border innovation. As part of the Enterprise Europe Network, we are committed to helping SMEs identify and access such high-potential markets, where sustainability, innovation, and growth converge.
The Amazon is a reminder that the future of business lies not only in established global centers, but also in emerging regions where creativity, resilience, and resources meet. Arhipelago’s role is to ensure that Romanian and European entrepreneurs are at the forefront of these opportunities.
