Dear Sir/Madam,
The Consulate of the United States of America in São Paulo, Brazil, has the pleasure to invite your state/school to participate in a major educational and cultural event that will help you promote your state as a destination for Brazilian international students – ExpoBelta 2010.
The economic and social contributions that international students bring to the United States are enormous. In 2008 alone, the Institute of International Education reported that the net contribution of foreign students to the U.S. economy was over $15 billion.
The U.S. Consulate in Sao Paulo Brazil has been presented with a unique opportunity to promote the United States as premier destination for Brazilian students. BELTA (the Brazilian Education and Language Travel Association) has invited the United States to be the Guest of Honor in the 2010 edition of ExpoBelta. Being the Guest of Honor implies that the entire promotion of the event will evolve around the educational opportunities, as well as cultural and social activities that we bring to this important event.
All of the major departments within the U.S. Consulate General in São Paulo, including Consular/Visa, Public Affairs, and the U.S. Commercial Service, as well as partner organizations such as Education USA, are working together to take advantage of this opportunity to cause an impact among the Brazilian student community.
As many of you are aware, there has been a decline in Brazilian student enrollments in U.S. educational programs since 2000. The reasons for this decline are varied. According the Institute of International Education, in 2000 Brazil was listed as 12th in the rankings of leading countries sending undergraduate students to the U.S. By 2006, Brazil was sending 18 percent fewer students to America than it did in 2000.
Our Consulate has been actively reaching out to educational institutions within Brazil to try to improve these statistics, including outreach on student visa issues. We view the U.S. participation in ExpoBelta 2010 as a key opportunity for us to improve the numbers of Brazilian students participating in U.S. educational opportunities.
ExpoBelta will take place in March 20-21, 2010 in São Paulo. The USA Pavilion will be organized by states/regions and we would like to have your state represented at the event. Please contact the U.S. Commercial Service in São Paulo at your earliest convenience to secure your presence at ExpoBelta 2010.
U.S. Commercial Service Contact:
Paulo Rodrigues, Business Development Specialist
Phone: (5511) 5186-7186 Fax: (5511) 5186- 7410
E-mail: Paulo.Rodrigues@mail.doc.gov

Please feel free to contact the U.S. Commercial Service directly if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing you at ExpoBelta 2010.
Sincerely,

Consul General Thomas J. White

NEWS on Expobelta!!!

It is confirmed that the United States Deputy Secretary of Education, Mr. Anthony Wilder Miller, will participate in ExpoBelta 2010 in São Paulo, Brazil. The Deputy Secretary of Education will participate in the official opening ceremony and also as a Keynote Speaker at the Education Forum taking place during ExpoBelta 2010. This year's event is of particular interest to U.S. schools because the United States is the "Guest of Honor" country. More then 20 schools are already confirmed to participate as exhibitors. Besides interacting with potential students during the fair, the U.S. Consulate in São Paulo together with EducationUSA, are planning complementary networking activities that will allow exhibitors to interface with Brazilian Universities and agents. (Mr. Anthony Wilde Miller Bio)

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