
José Botafogo Gonçalves
Ambassador José Botafogo Gonçalves is a high level consultant to the International Intelligence Unit (IIU). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in political and legal sciences (PUC-RJ), and is trained in Economic Development Issues (CEPAL-1960). During the last 45 years, he has held numerous positions in the diplomatic arena, always related to economic and trade matters. He was Head of the Trade Policy Division of the MRE (Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs); Secretary for International Economic and Technical Cooperation of the Secretariat for Planning on behalf of the President; Vice-President for External Relations of the World Bank; Brazilian Consul General in Milan; Undersecretary General for Integration, Economic Affairs and Foreign Trade of the MRE; Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism. He was sworn as Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Foreign Trade reporting to the Brazilian President, and appointed by President Cardoso as his special representative to MERCOSUR and Brazilian Ambassador to Argentina. Currently, he is Vice-Chairman Emeritus of the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) and a member of the boards of FIESP, CNC and FCCE.