B razil has immeasurable growth potential . However , in the last years it is facing a recession , having closed the year 2015 with a GDP drop of 3.5 %. Herculean efforts and management exercises will be imperative in 2016 .

Brazil is the world ’ s fifth largest country in territorial extent , with a land mass of 3.3 million square miles ( 8.5 million sq . km ). Its population of 204.5 million inhabitants is concentrated in a roughly 180 mile ( 300 km ) strip of coastal area , mainly on the southeastern and southern states .

Unlike the US , which has a wellbalanced transportation network encompassing 43 % railways , 32 % road and 25 % waterways , Brazil is highly dependent on roads , with 67 % of all transportation done by highways , only 18 % by rail and 11 % by waterways ; the remaining

98 March 2016