Eike Batista isn’t just another entrepreneur who likes Apple products and doesn’t mind having dinner with Steve Jobs every two months or so. No, he’s more like the eighth richest person in the world according to Forbes, and Brazil’s first billionaire. He runs several mining and oil-services companies, and among those one called “OSX”. He’s not exactly someone you can diss with a Steve-mail.
According to MacMagazine, the guy would like to bring Apple’s manufacturing process to Brazil, to create job positions, generate revenue and lower costs of Apple products for Brazilian customers. Apple currently gets its products made in China, through Foxconn.
TUAW reports:
He is currently constructing the Port of Acu in southern Brazil – a $1.6 billion construction project – encompassing 90 square miles of available space that he hopes will lure companies to Brazil for product assembly.
Oh and if he doesn’t manage to close a deal with Apple, he’ll go straight to BMW. The bar’s pretty high. Apple has been using Foxconn’s facilities for years, but with rumors of increased wages to avoid suicide of workers in Shenzen, Apple might consider moving its manufacturing process to a different location.
