Sebrae and the Ministry of Sports sign an agreement to boost small businesses in the sports sector.
The partnership aims to support 20 sporting events until 2027, including the Women's World Cup, and seeks to increase entrepreneurs' revenue by 20%.
Brazilian sport received a strategic boost this Tuesday (2). Sebrae and the Ministry of Sports signed a technical cooperation agreement that promises to strengthen the sector's production chain and expand opportunities for small businesses across the country.
According to information released by Sebrae, the initiative includes the selection of at least 20 major sporting events, among them the 2027 Women's World Cup, for joint action by the two institutions. The expectation is that the entrepreneurs served will achieve an increase of up to 20% in their revenue, in addition to better access to credit, training, and new markets.
The partnership also focuses on economic and social development, the inclusion of startups aligned with ESG practices in sports production chains, and the mapping of data that can guide public and private policies for the sector.
The president of Sebrae Nacional, Décio Lima, highlighted the leading role of small entrepreneurs in this process. “It is the small merchants and service providers who ensure the quality and inclusion of events. With this agreement, we want to give visibility to these entrepreneurs in the sports chain, qualifying them to integrate into a safe process, whether in opening new businesses or in the longevity of their economic activities,” he stated.
According to the Brazilian Association of Event Promoters (Abrape), the events sector, including sports events, registered a 38,2% growth in formal job creation between 2019 and 2025. Décio Lima also pointed out that in 2024 alone, 4,1 million small businesses were opened in the country. "Sports activities, as well as their promotion, are part of this picture of an economy that, at an extraordinary speed, has allowed Brazil to once again be removed from the Hunger Map," he emphasized.
The Minister of Sports, André Fufuca, reinforced the government's commitment to supporting the formalization of the sector. "Sport is an economic powerhouse, and it requires an organized and formalized production chain. Therefore, we are fulfilling this express directive from President Lula, which is to promote and include all those Brazilians who work in sports and are currently in the informal sector," he said.
The National Secretary for Sports Betting and Economic Development of Sport, Giovanni Rocco, added that the impact of the agreement will be felt especially in the areas surrounding the stadiums. "These are people in the informal sector who need training, but also access to credit and professional qualifications," he emphasized.