Entrepreneurial refugees want to expand business in Brazil, shows UNHCR survey

entrepreneurship

The largest concentration of entrepreneurial refugees is in the cities of São Paulo, Boa Vista and Manaus

The couple Motaz and Limia left the Republic of Sudan, Africa’s third largest country, in 2001, after political persecution. They came to Brazil and, in 2017, opened Mobi, an Arab food restaurant in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. “My husband and I like to cook, so it’s a job that comes from the soul. The people of Cuiabá are warm and would come here to hug us. In these years of business, customers have become friends”, comments Limia.

Focusing on Lebanese and Syrian food, the place sells tabbouleh, babaganoush, hummus, raw and fried kibbeh, sfihas, kafta, among other typical dishes of Arab cuisine, bringing new tastes and seasonings to Brazilian society – in addition to diversifying the local economy .

The couple plans to further expand the business and transform the place into a cultural center. “People don’t come to our restaurant just to eat, we talk a lot. They ask about our religion, customs, why I wear hijab (Muslim veil). Our idea is to set up tents and in each one show the decor and cuisine of one of the 22 countries in the region. This is our dream,” she adds.

Like them, 96% of entrepreneurs on the Refugiados Empreendedores platform plan to expand their businesses in Brazil. This is what a survey carried out by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Innovare points out. The diagnosis also showed that, for 69% of the respondents, the enterprise represents the main source of support for their family and 63% already undertake in the country of origin.

“These results demonstrate the fundamental role of entrepreneurship for the financial recovery and autonomy of refugees living in Brazil. And that these entrepreneurs, in addition to having skills and experience formed in the country of origin, are qualified to undertake in Brazil, since 81% responded that they underwent some training in the area”,

adds UNHCR’s Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Officer, Paulo Sérgio Almeida.

Formalization of business and collaborators

Other data collected by the survey concern how refugee entrepreneurs impact the economy of the host community. Most (71%) have CNPJ, which means they have a formal business in Brazil, with tax collection and other attributes. In addition, almost half of the interviewed entrepreneurs (44%) hired employees in Brazil, whether Brazilians or compatriots. That is, they are contributing to the generation of income and jobs in Brazil, increasing income opportunities and raising the professional experience of other people.

The diagnosis also shows that the main means of selling products is through social networks (84%), but many have a physical store (47%).

The survey also shows that starting a business in Brazil is not easy and can be very bureaucratic, especially for refugees. They pointed out that the main challenges of being an entrepreneurial refugee in Brazil are formalization and bureaucratic aspects (23%), investment resources (21%) and language (15%). Even so, 73% rated the quality of life in Brazil as “great” and virtually all (97%) are willing to help other enterprising refugees.

About the search

Although the Refugiados Empreendedores platform has more than 100 refugees and migrants listed, the survey was carried out with 63 respondents who are part of the Refugiados Empreendedores platform. Respondents are from Latin America (75%), Middle East (14%) and Africa (11%) and the main cities where they are undertaking are São Paulo (SP), Boa Vista (RR) and Manaus (AM), being mostly women (60%). The companies of these entrepreneurs, in general, have an average time of existence of three years.

*With advisory information

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