Brazilian minister engages with port and airport authorities in Europe

The Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio França, traveled to Belgium last Monday (22) to meet with European port and airport authorities. There, França will visit ports in the country along with members of the Association of Private Port Terminals (ATP), which advocates for the privatization of the Port of Santos.

ATP represents 30 large companies and comprises 54 private ports, which handle 60% of Brazil’s port cargo. The Santos complex’s privatization process, initiated during the Bolsonaro administration, was suspended by França shortly after he took office.

However, the government has not made a final decision on privatization and is currently studying the issue. The minister’s idea is to maintain governmental control over port authority while granting terminals and services to the private sector. São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas is one of the strongest proponents of privatization.

During his visit, França will tour the ports of Antwerp (one of the largest in Europe), Ghent, and Zeebrugge, all of which are publicly owned. Antwerp is a partner of Brazil in the port sector and has expertise in dredging. The minister also plans to visit Brussels Airport.

During the five-day trip, França will also explore two immersed tunnels, whose projects might inspire the dry connection between Santos and Guarujá. The first visit is scheduled for the Scheldt Tunnel, which will complete Antwerp’s northern ring road and have a total length of 1,800 meters. Subsequently, the minister will visit St. Anna’s Tunnel, a tunnel located 31 meters deep below the Scheldt River, already built in Antwerp.

The delegation accompanying França on the trip consists of representatives from the National Waterway Transport Agency (Antaq) and Brazilian ambassadors.

Source: Infomoney

To read the original news report, click on: https://www.infomoney.com.br/economia/marcio-franca-viaja-a-belgica-com-empresas-que-querem-privatizar-porto-de-santos/

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