By Québec Office in São Paulo
Grégoire Diamant took up his duties as Director of the Québec Office in São Paulo in September this year. One of his priorities will be to further strengthen economic relations between Québec and Brazil. Read the message he shares with CCBC members.
“It was with great enthusiasm that I took up my duties as the Government of Québec’s representative in Brazil at the beginning of September. Since my arrival, I have felt warmly welcomed and encouraged by the dynamism of my Brazilian counterparts and the genuine interest they have shown in Québec. I am optimistic about the opportunities to further deepen ties between Québec and Brazil.
At a time when trade relations are being diversified, this outlook reinforces Québec’s international vocation and its longstanding commitment to free trade. This openness to trade has been a constant across Québec governments over the past several decades. Few people know this, but it is worth recalling that Québec played a key role in bringing about the free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union.
In this regard, ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement between Canada and Mercosur open up new opportunities for economic relations between Québec and Brazil.
Québec is one of the most active subnational governments on the international stage, with more than 30 offices in approximately 20 countries. In Brazil, it is the only Canadian province with a permanent presence, established in 2008, demonstrating our enduring commitment to our Brazilian partners. We maintain particularly strong ties with the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Paraná, but our work extends across the country, with activities taking place in several Brazilian states.
Before taking up my position in Brazil, I met with representatives from various sectors in Québec and witnessed genuine and sincere interest in Brazil. Our economies have important complementarities, particularly in the areas of the energy transition, mining, critical and strategic minerals, aerospace, and the creative industries, with innovation serving as a cross-cutting priority.
Over the coming months, I look forward to engaging with you to expand these partnerships throughout Brazil.”
Grégoire Diamant has worked at Québec’s Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie (MRIF) since 2012, where he has held various positions at headquarters and within Québec’s network of international offices.
From 2021 to 2026, he served as Director for Africa and the Middle East, leading the team responsible for Québec’s relations with the region and coordinating the province’s offices in Rabat, Dakar, Abidjan, and Tel Aviv. During this period, he contributed to implementing the Government of Québec’s first territorial strategy dedicated to Africa, as well as opening Québec’s first office in the Middle East.
Previously, he spent five years at the Québec Government Office in Brussels. As an advisor on bilateral relations and public affairs, he contributed to strengthening Québec’s ties with Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
Grégoire Diamant holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the École nationale d’administration publique (ÉNAP) and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and International Law from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). He speaks French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian.
*This article does not necessarily reflect CCBC’s views and is the sole responsibility of its author.
