Brazilian Minister Unveils Strategic Plan To Address Ports, Waterway Issues

Silvio Costa Filho, Minister of Ports and Airports, met with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Tuesday afternoon (9) to discuss investments in the areas of ports, airports, and waterways in Brazil in the coming years.

Voa Brasil

One of the significant topics discussed was the “Voa Brasil” program. This initiative aims to expand access to air transportation by offering airfares for as low as R$ 200 during the low-peak season, with retirees as the first target public. Operating without government subsidies, the program, expected to be launched in January, utilizes vacant seats on domestic flights.

Port of Itajaí

Silvio Costa Filho also addressed the federal government’s concern regarding the Port of Itajaí. It’s important to note that the port used to generate approximately 4,000 jobs in the region but became unviable in the previous administration. “President Lula instructed us to get operations off the ground as soon as possible,” he clarified, emphasizing the ministry’s commitment to resolving all operational issues.

Navegue Simples

The simplification and improvement of port concessions were also on the agenda. The minister detailed “Navegue Simples,” the Ministry of Ports and Airports’ primary initiative for the continuous improvement of concessions. The program aims to identify opportunities for enhancement and add more public value to concession policies and processes, improving the user experience for those dealing with such procedures.

Santos Tunnel

The construction of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel, expected for 97 years, is scheduled to take the first steps in 2024 with resources from the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC). The Port of Santos is crucial for the Brazilian production chain, representing 30% of the country’s export flow and generating thousands of jobs with a significant impact on Brazilian agribusiness.

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