MIAMI, Florida – A prominent member of the Brazilian business community is insisting that there is no need for foreigners to be fearful of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, which has been affecting the populous South American country.

Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) of Rio de Janeiro Steven Bipes maintained in an interview with the Jamaica Observer in this city of diverse cultures, that the Brazilian chamber was putting every effort into making the Olympic Games, which the city of Rio de Janeiro will host in August of this year.

“There is talk that the Olympic Games might be shifted from Brazil but that will not happen,” Bipes said. “Preparations are almost finalised; Brazil will host the Games in a spectacular fashion … in the way they did the World Cup of football. Certainly the business community is supporting the Government and there is concern about Zika, but everyone is looking to do their part to combat it. However, the Olympics will not be affected and it will be a success.

Bipes was one of several chief executives and presidents of AMCHAMs in Latin America and the Caribbean who attended the Strategic Planning Retreat of the Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean held at the posh Trump National Doral Hotel, owned by billionaire and US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump, here from February 3 to 5.

The association in its mission statement advocates trade and investment between Latin American and Caribbean countries through free trade, free markets and free enterprise.

Insisting that all was well with the Olympic Games, Bipes said that the stigma attached to the Zika virus was cause for concern among those not familiar with the Brazilian turf but it was not enough to derail all the gains that have been made and cramp the achievements that lie ahead.

“We have the resources to keep Zika under control by the time of the Olympics. It will still be a threat, it won’t be something that’s solved by the time of the Olympics. I’m not a doctor, I’m an engineer but it’s quite possible that a number of people in this room have it and don’t know. We are concerned for our pregnant women, particularly with newborn infants … that’s the real concern, but as for international visitors coming to Rio, it will be fine, it will be spectacular,” Bipes said from one of the hotel’s ballroom.

“Right now, Brazil is in a political crisis, but what we at AMCHAM are doing is taking advantage of the opportunity to educate our firms on how to be nationalised, how to tap into customers beyond our borders, how to survive the crisis. We sent two trade missions to the United States last year, we also helped to facilitate inbound investment, this year we are having two major events – the business future of the Americas – to focus on some of the issues on May 23, and also our pre-Olympic event leadership summit on the eve of the Olympic Games.

“The Olympic Games are a global sporting event and we are going to be highlighting the innovation of companies on the leadership summit that we are going to have on the eve of the event, certainly many of our member companies are the ones that have provided the technology, they are official sponsors that have been innovative and creative in supporting the Olympic Games, there are the hotels hosting the athletes and visitors, there are the airlines that are transporting people, there are the restaurants, so all of that is part of our network in taking advantage of the Olympics to leverage it, but also building a legacy beyond,” he went on.

There are 15 AMCHAM groups across Brazil, which are all working with AMCHAM Rio to see how best their members can benefit from the Olympic Games, Bipes said.

While underlining the importance of the Olympic Game, Bipes was quick to admit that football, a staple of the daily Brazilian diet, would still outshine anything that the Olympics had to offer.

“It’s an honour for the country to be hosting the Olympic Games – South America’s first, but the real staying power is football, as far as longevity goes. It’s deeply in the DNA. It’s really a spectacle to see the Olympic Games, to support it and participate in it, but the mainstay is football.

For people like me in particular who live in Rio, after many years of preparations for the World Cup and the Olympics, we are delighted and honoured to host the next event and we will be delighted and honoured when it’s done,” Bipes said.

The economy of Rio de Janeiro is diversified with a strong focus on oil, gas, the creative industries, insurance, tourism and entertainment.