Brazil’s Federal Government to Increase Its Intervention in 16 Large Ports

Brazil’s federal government has announced that it is to increase its intervention in the management and planning of 16 large ports.

At present, its participation in these facilities is through investment only, although by September new measures will be announced in respect of government participation.

Currently, a budget of $1.92bn has been set aside by the Ports Secretariat (SEP) for civil works and dredging in these ports.

For its part, the private sector has confirmed that it is willing to invest $16bn in private ports, but is being put off by the amount of red tape involved.

The National Ports Authority, Antaq, has identified what it considers 45 priority projects in need of private investment. The first will be construction of a new terminal at Manaus, where the situation is regarded as critical.

However, the Ports Secretariat denies that Brazilian ports will be privatised and that any views or opinions on this subject will come from the Ministry of Transport and not from Antaq.

(portstrategy)