The Brazilian government has positioned Brazil as a global leader, by offering aid to neighboring countries, heading United Nations missions, and partnering with African and South American countries to develop infrastructure and joint ventures.

Rio de Janeiro is the cultural capital of Brazil and a major financial, commercial, and transportation center. After São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro is the Brazilian city with the second major gross domestic product in the nation, Estimated at about 150 billion reals per year. The metropolitan region constitutes the second largest national hub of wealth, and 70% of Rio de Janeiro State's economic strength.

Benefiting from being the federal capital of Brazil until 1960, for nearly two hundred years, Rio evolved into a vibrant administrative, financial, commercial and cultural center.