The ceremony took place on Wednesday, 26, during the Hospitalar 2010 gala dinner. Mrs Marlene Schmidt, Executive Director and Mr Djalma Luiz Rodrigues, Industrial Director presented the award to the president of APEX – Brazil.
In recognition of leadership demonstrated in the development of exports of Brazilian products, especially in the field of medical equipment, Fanem awarded the Walter Schmidt Prize to economist Mr. Alessandro Teixeira from Rio Grande do Sul. This prize is awarded annually to individuals for their contributions to the health sector. In 2007, Mr. Teixeira took over the presidency of APEX Brazil - Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency. Last year, the World Bank considered it as one of the best investment promotion agencies in the world and the best in the promotion field.
“Mr. Teixeira´s leadership, with the creation of initiatives such as operational platforms to support trade, has contributed greatly in helping Brazilian companies to reach important spaces on the international market. In this context, many Brazilian manufacturers of health products have established themselves in new markets, which has contributed to the evolution of their products, as well as the adoption of international standards and certifications. In short, Mr. Teixeira has made an effective contribution to the development of Brazilian health industry," said Mrs. Marlene Schmidt, Executive Director at Fanem.
Mr. Alessandro Teixeira received the Walter Schmidt Prize from Mrs. Marlene Schmidt and Mr. Djalma Luiz Rodrigues, during the gala dinner organized by the Hospitalar on Wednesday night (May 26), at the Renaissance Hotel, in São Paulo. The event was attended by over 500 people, including businessmen, professionals, leaders in the health sector, and even a very special guest, the former governor of the State of São Paulo, Dr. Geraldo Alckmin. Besides Mr. Alessandro Teixeira, Dr. Linamara Rizzo Battistella, State Secretary for the Rights of Disabled Persons, was also honored as Person of the Year in Health Sector, a tribute bestowed by Dr. Waleska Santos, president of the Hospitalar.
Mr. Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Technological Economics from the University of Sussex, England, a Master’s degree in Latin-American Economics from the University of São Paulo, and a BEc from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. He participated in the creation of the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI), which he subsequently chaired. He was Coordinator of Industrial, Technological and Foreign Trade Policy with the Brazilian Federal Government, Executive Secretary of the National Council for Industrial Development (CDNI) and Counselor of Sectorial Funds of the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT). In May 2007, Mr. Alessandro Teixeira became president of Apex – Brazil, a Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency. In 2008, the Agency was considered one of the best agencies for world trade promotion by the International Trade Center – ITC-UNCTAD, United Nations. Since April 2008, Mr. Alessandro Teixeira has also headed WAIPA - World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies - an organization that represents investment promotion agencies from over 160 countries. Since March 2009, he has also been the Brazilian Commissioner General for Expo Shanghai 2010.
