PORTAL COMMERCE HISTORY AND KEY MILESTONES

2003

APRIL

University of Texas at Austin graduate school students John Cuttino and Kevin Schroeder together with Washington, DC-based lawyer Gerardo Lapetina founded Portal Commerce & Logistics for the purpose of helping Brazilian clients with the export of granite and green coffee from Brazil to Central Texas and U.S. Southwest.

2005

MARCH

Presented “The Development of Trade Corridors: The Role of Integration Rountables and Future Opportunities – The Brazil-Houston Case” , Vitoria, Brazil, Mercosul Atlantic Corridor Consortium

2006

MARCH

Portal begins Brazil Representation of Port of Houston Authority, opening first Brazil office in São Paulo, representing the Port of Houston through December 2018.

AUGUST

Port Of Santos Authority And Port Of Houston Authority Renew Cooperation Agreement.

SEPTEMBER

Santos Export Trade Mission to Houston

2007

JUNE

Presented “The Role of Barging on Houston’s Transport System,” Conexão Maritima Navegar Congress 2007, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

2008

APRIL

Brazilian Minister of Ports Trade Mission to Houston

SEPTEMBER

Organized And executed first major trade show exhibition for the Port Of Houston Authority, State Of Texas, and the Greater Houston Partnership at the Rio Oil And Gas Expo in Rio De Janeiro.

2009

APRIL

Organized the first participation of the Port of Houston Authority, the Greater Houston Partnership, and the Houston Aiport System at the Intermodal South America trade show.  

MAY

Developed a strategic partnership with the Cantrell Company [cantrellco.com] in Abuja. Nigeria to develop U.S. – Brazil – Nigeria trade and investment.

AUGUST

Presented “Inland Waterway Navigation: The Case of the Houston Ship Channel of the US Gulf”, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

OCTOBER

Led the first Nigeria trade mission from the state of Benue, Nigeria to São Paulo, Brazil.

Presented “The Development of People for the Opportunities and Challenges of Ports in the 21st Century: The Houston Experience”, 6th International Seminar on Port Business, UNISANTOS, Santos, São Paulo

DECEMBER

Port Of Houston Authority Officially Overtakes Port Of New York/New Jersey For Top Spot In U.S.-Brazil Containerized Cargo

2010

MARCH

Presented “The Port of Houston and Logistics Cost Reductions for Exports to US, São Paulo, Brazil”, Central Park Jardins

JUNE

Presented “Houston and Sergipe: Business Opportunities”, SEDETEC, Aracaju, Sergipe  

NOVEMBER

Presented “The Development of Competencies in Professional Education Services to the Port Sector: The Recent Case of Houston”, Ports Seminar at Transpoquip 2010, Exponorte São Paulo.

2011

MAY

Presented “Port of Houston Excellence and Challenges”, 12th Port Forum, Rio de Janeiro,

JUNE

Presented “The Blue Ocean Proposal:  Search for New Sustainable Logistics”,  Bright Green Ports Panel, Brazilian Ports and Coastal Waters: Sustainability and Economic Development Opportunities, in conjunction with the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN), Rio de Janeiro

2012

MARCH

Organized Texas One State of Texas trade mission to São Paulo with the Texas Secretary of State

Presented “Inland Waterway Transport and Applied Scheduling/Monitoring Technologies for Vessels and Barges at the Port of Houston and in the US Gulf,” Polo Naval Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul,

APRIL

Oxiteno announces investment in the Houston region with the acquisition of the Texas Chemical Company

2013

JULY

Presented “Multimodality and the Drainage of Production: The Case of the Port of Houston,” Intercomex 2013 at Transposul Expo, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul,

SEPTEMBER

Presented “Inland Waterway Transportation: Some Considerations,” Brazil-Germany Chamber of Commerce, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

Presented at the United Nations CEPAL International Seminar, “Facilitating the Effective Integration of Developing Countries in the Global Economy through Aid for Trade”,  Managua, Nicaragua, Seminole Plaza Hotel

2014

MAY

SEBRAE-Rio de Janeiro Trade Mission 

Presented “B2B Matchmaking Sessions” at OTC Houston

AUGUST

Portal organized and executes Texas One State of Texas Trade Mission to Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil led by Texas Secretary of State.

OCTOBER

Presented “Houston as the Gateway to the Americas for Brazilian Companies,” Maranhão for Business, São Luís, Maranhão, Federation of Industries of the State of Maranh

2015

APRIL

Presented “The New Exchange Rates and Opportunities for Intermodal Logistics and Foreign Trade Between U.S. and Brazil”, Intermodal South America 2015, São Paulo, São Paulo

MAY

SEBRAE-Rio de Janeiro Trade Mission 

Presented “B2B Matchmaking Sessions” at OTC Houston

OCTOBER

Presented “The Port of Houston,” Expo Industria, São Luis, Maranhão, Federation of Industries of the State of Maranhão.

NOVEMBER

Presented “More Competitive Exports to USA: Facilitating DDP Sales and Improving Logistics Through the Port of Houston,” Exporta São Paulo Seminar, São Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo Commercial Association

2016

MARCH

Port Houston Delegation meets with Brazilian Foreign Trade Association President in Development of Trade Cooperation Agreement, Rio de Janeiro.

MAY

Participation at Texas Chamber of Commerce in Brazil’s booth at Agrishow 2016 the largest agricultural equipment expo in Brazil, Riberão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

SEPTEMBER

Brazilian Furniture Trade Mission to Houston, Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul

2017

JANUARY

Portal Commerce organizes and executes Federal University of Santa Catarina’s LABTRANS and SEST/SENAT Waterborne Transport Training and Benchmarking Trade Mission to USA (Houston, Norfolk, Ft. Lauderdale).

JUNE

Port of Houston Authority and Brazilian Foreign Trade Association sign a cooperation agreement.  

AUGUST

Portal Commerce represents the Port of Houston Authority at ENAEX 2017.  

DECEMBER

Presented “Houston and Business Opportunities: Dallas Showroom and Exports Delivered,” Exporta São Paulo, São Paulo Commercial Association, São Paulo, Brazil.

2018

AUGUST

Portal represents the Port of Houston at ENAEX 2018

SEPTEMBER

Portal Commerce is invited and attends the launch of Clube Empreendedor – The Entrepreneur’s Club – in Rio and becomes a charter member. The mission of The Entrepreneur Club is to connect entrepreneurs in Rio de Janeiro and help generate new business.

DECEMBER

Portal Commerce launches its Digital Services initiative with visits to startups and accelerators in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states including HubSpot at the University of São Paulo (USP).  

2019

FEBRUARY

Portal Commerce advances its Digital Services initiative with discussions on the creation of International Services Zones (ZIS) and Smart Cities with Fomenta Rio.

Portal Commerce becomes member of the Prosyon Group to offer M&A advisory services to Brazilian middle-market companies.

MARCH

Portal President John Cuttino named Director of International Business for the Brazil Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services and the Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the term 2019-2023.

APRIL

Portal Commerce continues its Digital Services initiative with discussions on the creation of International Enterprise Services Zones (ZIS) in partnership with Fomenta Rio, visiting the technology parks in Ribeirão Preto, Joinville, Florianopolis, and Belo Horizonte.

Portal Commerce executes Federal University of Technology at Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Nigeria educational trade mission to Brazil with Nigerian partner Cantrell Company.  The trade mission results in successful cooperation agreement with the Federal University of Santa Catarina.

MAY

Portal Commerce meets with senior executives at the Red Cross to discuss a partnership arrangement to cultivate technology services in underserved communities. The initial target areas are the Favelas in Rio. 

JUNE

Portal Commerce is exhibitor at 11th World Congress of Chambers of Commerce in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as member of the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services and the Rio de Janeiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

JULY

Portal Commerce visits the startup accelerators Silicon Harlem in New York City, the Newark Venture Partners (NVP) Technology Hub in Newark, NJ, and the Bizology Academy, also located in Newark

AUGUST

Portal Commerce visits the startup accelerators Silicon Harlem in New York City, the Newark Venture Partners (NVP) Technology Hub in Newark, NJ, and the Bizology Academy, also located in Newark

Portal President John Cuttino serves as guest presenter on Brazil at the Greater Houston Partnership sponsored event, “Beyond Borders: Latin American Markets, Politics and Business Environment”.

OCTOBER/ NOVEMBER

Portal begins contract to assist CODEMAR (Marica Development Company), participating at OTC Brazil and ENAEX 2019.

NOVEMBER

With Nigerian partner Cantrell Company and Brazilian partners Solutek, Duciello, and Aliança, Portal Commerce executes successful Benue State, Nigeria Executive Trade Mission to Brazil for Renewable Energies, Education and Agro-Allied Investments led by His Excellency Governor Samuel Ortom.

DECEMBER

Portal Commerce is invited to participate in the signing of the trade pact for the Fluminesse Development Project held in Maricá.

2020

FEBRUARY

Portal Commerce and Nigerian partner Cantrell Company lead follow-up Benue State, Nigeria Renewable Energies Trade Mission to Brazil.

JUNE

Portal Commerce signs partnership agreement with best-in-class Brazilian logistics solutions provider Interoceanica.