Interview with the Deputy Consul General of Brazil in San Francisco

Brazil Appoints its First Tech Envoy to Silicon Valley

The UN Brief interviewed the newly appointed tech envoy of Brazil to Silicon Valley, Dr. Eugenio V. Garcia. A career diplomat, he has the rank of Minister-Counsellor and holds the post of Deputy Consul General, in San Francisco.

His bio is pretty impressive.

Source: UN

Dr. Garcia was senior adviser and the team leader on peace and security, humanitarian and legal affairs in the Office of the President of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

As a career diplomat, he previously served at the Brazilian Embassies in London, Mexico City, Asuncion, and at the Brazilian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, where he was the deputy political coordinator of the Security Council team during Brazil’s last term as a non-permanent member (2010-2011).

He held different positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brasilia, including as adviser on Asia-Pacific affairs, diplomatic planning, adviser to the Foreign Minister (2005-2009) and to the Deputy Foreign Minister (2014-2015), and head of the United Nations Division (2015-2018).

Eugenio holds a PhD in History of International Relations from the University of Brasilia. Apart from being a professor at the Rio Branco Institute, the Brazilian diplomatic academy, he was visiting research associate at the University of Oxford (1999-2000) and taught at the College of Latin American Studies, National Autonomous University of Mexico (2004-2005).

He has published seven books on foreign policy, history, and international affairs. His current areas of research include artificial intelligence, the impact of new technologies in the areas of peace and security, and the role of multilateral organizations in global governance.

The decision by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministerio das Relacoes Exteriores, MRE) to appoint a dedicated tech diplomat to Silicon Valley follows recent developments in diplomacy worldwide, as countries in Europe are opening offices to engage directly with technology companies to address issues of mutual concern, trade in services, and to shape policies to stimulate technical and scientific cooperation.

Scroll dow to watch my interview with Minister-Counsellor Eugenio V. Garcia.

The first such office dedicated to technology affairs was created by the Danish government, in 2017. It was so successful that a top diplomat, Ambassador Casper Klynge became known around Silicon Valley for his openness of mind, his dexterity in aligning interests from his government with technology companies, and his well-produced podcast. A shinning example of diplomacy embracing innovation. So much that he was invited to join Microsoft, as their Vice President, European Government Affairs, in their Brussels Office.

Watch my interview with former Danish Ambassador Casper Klynge, made last year in July to speak about his appointment with Microsoft and what was on the agenda to shape and work with the EU on policies for AI, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and Robotics.