SOLOMON MCCOWN CEO HELENE SOLOMON JOINED GOVERNOR PATRICK ON INNOVATION ECONOMY MISSION TO BRAZIL

BOSTON – December 14, 2011 – Solomon McCown CEO Helene Solomon joined Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and a coalition of business executives, academic leaders and government officials on the Massachusetts-Brazil Innovation Economy Mission 2011 this December to pursue job growth and economic development partnerships between Massachusetts and Brazil.

A leader in the public relations industry, Solomon contributed her strategic communications expertise and her position as a business owner in the Commonwealth to help the delegation assess economic development opportunities that encourage Brazilian companies to invest and create jobs in Massachusetts. During the trip, Solomon took part in roundtables, company visits and meetings with government and business officials.

“I was honored to join the Governor and the rest of the delegation on this trade mission,” said Solomon. “Much like the mission to Israel I had the privilege of attending earlier this year, the Brazil mission was an important opportunity for our Commonwealth to explore new opportunities and business collaborations in the global marketplace.”

 “We are committed to competing for every job in every corner of the Commonwealth, and the world,” said Governor Patrick. “To continue our recovery, we position Massachusetts for success in growing markets like Brazil, to drive job growth and catalyze international investment.” 
 
From December 4-9, 2011, Solomon joined the Governor’s delegation during stops in Brasilia, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, visiting Brazilian companies, universities and government leaders – highlighting all that Massachusetts has to offer Brazil. 

In 2010, bilateral trade between Massachusetts and Brazil topped $475 million – representing more than $396 million in exports to Brazil and more than $80 million in imports to Massachusetts.

“With a middle class population that recently reached 52 percent, there are opportunities for Massachusetts companies like ours to do business in Brazil,” said Solomon.

The mission created growth opportunities within Massachusetts’ innovation-based industries and areas of common interest between the state’s established and emerging partners in Brazil. Successes include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will strengthen University of Massachusetts’ existing work on Brazilian crops, leading to economic development and job creation opportunities with a projected economic impact of over $3 billion.  Governor Patrick also announced the TOP USA-Massachusetts Program, an initiative that will promote an academic exchange of faculty and students between Brazilian and North American Universities including UMass, Harvard University, Boston University and MIT.

About Solomon McCown

Solomon McCown & Company (SM&) provides strategic communications, public affairs and crisis management services to local, regional and national companies and mission-focused organizations. We leverage all of our assets -- passion, experience, flexibility, unique perspectives, vast networks, and determination -- to help clients achieve the definition, recognition and protection they need to meet their goals.

Since its founding in 2003, SM& has earned its place among the top public relations firms with award-winning (63 to be exact) work on behalf of some of the most renowned and forward thinking enterprises in the region and nation.