Sergio Amaral

Biography

Ambassador Amaral was born in São Paulo in 1944. He received a law degree at the University of São Paulo and a few years later the Diploma of Superior Studies on Political Science (DESS) at the University of Paris I (Panthéon Sorbonne), under the guidance of Professor Maurice Duverger. As a career diplomat he served in Paris, Bonn, Geneva and twice in Washington. He was Ambassador to London and Paris. He was Assistant Professor of International Relations at the University of Brasilia. He served as chief debt negotiator for Brazil before the Bank Advisory Committee and the Paris Club. In that capacity he concluded in 1988 a set of debt restructuring agreements in the overall amount of 80 billion dollars. He was alternate Governor to the IMF and World Bank for a few years, having been elected to chair the G 24 for international financial issues. He was also alternate Representative of Brazil before the GATT during the Uruguay Round negotiations. Ambassador Amaral served in high level positions at the Brazilian administration, such as Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the Ministry of Finance and Vice Minister for the Environment. During the administration of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Ambassador Amaral was a member of the Cabinet for six years. First as Secretary of Social Communication and spokesman for the President; then as Minister for Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. He was further President of the Foreign Trade Council of Ministers (CAMEX) and Chairman of the National Bank for Development (BNDES). He is now Director for International Studies at the Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation, Counselor to the Federation of Industry of São Paulo and a partner to Felsberg and Associates, a law firm. He sits in the board of a few companies, including the International Advisory Board of Total, one of the largest oil companies in the world; the Managing Board of AES Eletropaulo, the largest energy distribution company in Brazil; the Mercosur Board of Plastic Omnium, a French company; member of the Governing Board of WWF Brazil and President emeritus of the China-Brazil Business Council. Ambassador Amaral received several distinguished Brazilian and foreign decorations, including: Grand Officier de la Légion d´Honneur (France -1998); Knight Commander of the British Empire K.B.E. (1997); Grã-Cruz da Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique (Portugal -1995); Great Cross of the Sacred Treasury (Japan - 1996) Ambassador Amaral speaks six languages and has published articles and essays in Brazil and abroad.

Research Interest

Buisness and Management