The annual Gala Dinner held by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Embassy of Brazil, took place at The Dorchester, London, on 26 May. Serving both as a celebration of the flourishing Brazil-UK relationship and as an excellent opportunity to make new contacts, the event was attended by more than 500 people, including parliamentarians and business leaders from both countries.

The traditional centrepiece of the event is the presentation of 'Personality of the Year' awards to two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the strengthening of Brazil-UK economic ties. This year’s awards went to two of the most distinguished figures in the global financial sphere: Henrique Meirelles, president of the Central Bank of Brazil, and Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England. The two men have been at the forefront of the initiatives Brazil and the UK have undertaken to prevent the further deterioration of the international economic situation, and have closely coordinated their positions in forums such as the G-20 meetings.

The two guests of honour were Jorge Paulo Lemann, one of Brazil's most important entrepreneurs and investors, and Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, whose political career included six years as Britain’s chancellor of the exchequer in the 1980s.

Source: Embassy of Brazil