The Ambassador will give a public lecture on the Brazilian economy today—its structure, characteristics, and remarkable current growth. It is a great honor to have such a high-profile visitor come to Bentley. As you well know, Brazil is the 9th largest oil exporter, the 2nd largest agricultural exporter, and the 5th largest economy in the world. Mr. Fernando De Mello Barreto has had a distinguished diplomatic career, including serving as Brazil’s Ambassador to Australia, Consul General in London, and representative to the World Trade Organization. In Brazil, Ambassador Barreto was a member of the Minister’s cabinet, serving in roles such as chief of staff and economic advisor. His career spans 20 years working around the globe in Ecuador, the USA, Canada, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. He has authored a number of publications including, The National Treatment of Foreign Investments (1994); Brazilian Diplomatic History from 1912 to 1964 (2001); and Brazilian Diplomatic History from 1964 to 1985 (2006). He is currently working on the next volume on Brazil’s diplomatic history. Ambassador Barreto received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of São Paulo and a Master of Law, Columbia University, New York.