São Paulo is the 19th richest city in the world and is expected to be the 13th richest in 2020. According to data of IBGE, its Gross domestic product (GDP) in 2005 was R$ 263177148000.00 (US$ 156280780941.00), equivalent to approximately 2.26% of the Brazilian GDP and 36% of all production of goods and services of the State of São Paulo. One of the biggest financial centres in Brazil and in the world, São Paulo's economy is going through a deep transformation. Once a city with a strong industrial character, São Paulo's economy has become increasingly based on the tertiary sector, focusing on services and businesses for the country. Many analysts point to São Paulo as an important global city, even though this assignment can be criticized considering its serious problems of social exclusion and spacial segregation. Although being the most important financial centre of the country, São Paulo's economy also presents a high degree of informality. São Paulo is the business center of the Mercosur economy. Consecrated Acclaimed as a city of business tourism, attracting today's biggest and most important international events, be they in the economic, cultural, scientific or sporting area, it is a metropolis that offers a service infrastructure of the highest efficiency and quality. The city hosts from small meetings to large exhibitions. It holds more than 200 events per day, offering more than 250 thousand square meters of space in pavilions and areas for congresses and fairs <b>...</b>