--Continued support for Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society as Brazil emerges as a global economic force--
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (June 4, 2012) – The Renault-Nissan Alliance is backing the internationally respected Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society’s inaugural conference in Brazil this week – the latest initiative from the Alliance in this rapidly growing emerging market.
More than 400 delegates are expected at the June 4-5 Sao Paulo event, which will focus on the crucial challenges facing the country as it continues its rise as a global economic power – Brazil has overtaken the UK to become the world’s sixth largest economy. Women leaders and rising stars along with their male peers will debate issues aimed at fostering new Brazilian and international networks of opportunity and action for business, the economy and society.
As well as being a strategic partner to the Forum, the Alliance will host the opening dinner and will be represented by Olivier Murguet, President of Renault Brazil, and Maristela Castanho, Product Planning Director, Renault Brazil. Castanho will participate in the first plenary on June 5 entitled: “What if Brazil’s key business drivers are changing?”
A Nissan LEAF electric vehicle and a Renault Sandero Stepway Concept will be on display outside the Forum itself.
The Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society was established in 2005 to bring together women leaders and their male counterparts to discuss ways of enhancing women’s contributions to the global economy and society. Its focus is to ‘build the future with women’s vision’ with particular attention on education, performance and parity in corporations and employment for women.
The Women’s Forum meets every October in Deauville in France where 1,200 delegates from 80 countries meet to hear and discuss the thoughts of up to 150 speakers. Renault partnered the event in 2006 and 2007 and the Alliance has been a strategic partner since 2008.
At the 2011 event, a delegation of 40 women from Brazil – including business leaders, politicians and media representatives – introduced the new dynamic Brazil to the Forum, a move which led directly to Women’s Forum Brazil. At the 2012 Deauville Forum a delegation from China is expected, prior to a Women’s Forum China in 2013.
At the 2011 Deauville Forum, that the Alliance announced that women now comprise 17 per cent of Renault’s workforce (up from 10 per cent in 1999 when the Alliance was formed). At Nissan, women account for 11 per cent of the global workforce and hold 10 per cent of manager-level positions. Nissan aims for this latter figure to rise to 14 per cent by 2017.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Brazil
The Alliance is also playing its part in the emergence of Brazil on the international stage. Last year, Nissan announced a significant investment in new production facilities in the country. An investment of 2.6 billion BRL (US$1.5 billion) is being made in the construction of an all-new facility in Resende, in Rio de Janeiro. The factory, which will start operation in the first half of 2014, will have the capacity to produce 200,000 vehicles annually for sale in Brazil. The factory will create 2,000 jobs directly with a further 4,000 within the supply chain and wider community.
At the same time, Renault announced an investment of 500 million BRL (US$285 million) to expand its existing facility in Curitiba, in the state of Parana, to boost its annual production capability to 380,000 units from next year (2013).
The Alliance holds a 6.5 per cent of the Brazilian market but aims to increase that to at least 13 per cent by 2016. At the time of the announcements Alliance Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn said: “Brazil represents a tremendous opportunity – both as a manufacturing base and as the home of a new generation of Renault and Nissan customers.”
“Brazil weathered the recession and emerged as the clear engine of growth for Latin America in the 21st century. We look forward to contributing to the region’s rapidly evolving manufacturing and technological expertise.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE OUR RELEASES:
Curitiba:
Oct 5, 2011 – In Brazil, Renault to increase its production capacity by 100,000 units per year in 2013
Resende:
Oct 6, 2011 – Nissan launches comprehensive strategy for Brazil
The Alliance in Brazil:
Oct 6, 2011 - Renault-Nissan Alliance launches $1.8 billion “Brazilian offensive”
Diversity at the Alliance:
Oct. 13, 2011 - Renault-Nissan Alliance sets industry standards for gender and ethnic diversity
MEDIA CONTACT:
Adriana Costa - Press Relations, Renault Brazil
adriana.costa@renault.com
+55 11 2184-9420
Alexandre Carvalho – Press Relations, Nissan Brazil
alexandre.Carvalho@nissan.com.br
+55 11 2184-8343
ABOUT THE RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE:
The Renault-Nissan Alliance is a strategic partnership between Paris-based Renault and Yokohama, Japan-based Nissan, which together sell one in 10 cars worldwide. The companies, which have been strategic partners since 1999, sold 8.03 million cars in nearly 200 countries in 2011. The Alliance also operates strategic collaborations with automakers including Germany’s Daimler, China’s Dong Feng, and India’s Ashok Leyland and recently formed a joint venture with state corporation Russian Technologies to acquire a majority stake in AVTOVAZ.
