Brazil and China launch $1 billion fund for energy, mining and AI investments

Brazil’s BNDES and China’s CEXIM will create a $1B fund to invest in energy transition, infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and AI projects starting in 2026.

Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES) and the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) have signed an agreement to establish a $1 billion investment fund aimed at strengthening cooperation in strategic sectors such as energy transition, infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and artificial intelligence.

According to BNDES, the new fund will begin operations in 2026, focusing on investments in both debt securities and equity stakes within Brazil. The Brazilian institution will contribute $400 million, while CEXIM will provide $600 million.

This marks the first bilateral fund jointly created by financial institutions from Brazil and China. The initiative seeks to deepen economic and technological ties between the two nations, supporting sustainable development and innovation-driven industries.

BNDES Planning Director Nelson Barbosa emphasized that the fund’s operations will be denominated in Brazilian reais, underlining the commitment to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar in regional trade and investment.

“This new partnership between the two institutions will strengthen the commercial and economic relationship between Brazil and China,” Barbosa said during the announcement ceremony held in Rio de Janeiro.

The collaboration aligns with Brazil’s strategy to attract long-term foreign investment and promote clean energy infrastructure, as well as China’s broader push to expand its presence in Latin America’s green and digital economies.