Santos-Guarujá tunnel takes priority in Brazil’s infrastructure program PAC

The Santos-Guarujá underwater tunnel stands as one of the priorities of Brazil’s infrastructure agenda under the new Growth Acceleration Program (PAC in Portuguese), recently unveiled by the Federal Government on Friday (11). This comprehensive program is slated to channel R$ 1.7 trillion into investments across all Brazilian states, allocating R$ 179.6 billion for São Paulo alone. Within the State of São Paulo, R$ 81.4 billion has been earmarked for investments in highways, railways, ports, airports, and waterways.

One of the State of São Paulo’s top-priority infrastructure initiatives integrated into the PAC is the effort to connect the right and left banks of the Port of Santos through an underwater tunnel.

According to the Federal Government, the new infrastructure program PAC takes shape through institutional measures and nine distinct investment axes. These measures encompass a coherent suite of normative management and planning actions designed to bolster public and private investments in Brazil, organized into five categories: improving regulatory processes and environmental licensing; expanding credit and economic incentives; refining concession mechanisms and public-private partnerships (PPPs); aligning with the ecological transition plan; and refining planning, management, and public procurement.

Of the nine delineated axes, the Efficient and Sustainable Transport axis includes investments in highways, railways, ports, airports, and waterways across all Brazilian states. The overarching goal is to curtail national production costs for the domestic market while enhancing Brazil’s competitive standing internationally.

In his address, Chief of Staff Rui Costa emphasized that the projects outlined in the PAC are accorded priority status and are integral components of a state policy. “Whether through public concession or public-private partnership projects, these actions will be prioritized.”

Zero ICMS tax for railways

Furthermore, Rui Costa announced a collaborative effort with State Treasury Departments to exempt railway projects from the Goods Circulation Tax (ICMS) payment. The minister also revealed that “R$ 30 billion will be invested in the national railway network.”

Interest at less than 2% for research and innovation

Vice-president and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce, and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, commented that the national reindustrialization strategy encompasses innovation and a reduction in the reference rate. “Neo-industrialization entails interest rates lower than 2% for research and development. It entails a green industry, decarbonization, exports, credit, streamlining bureaucracy, and a unified portal within the PAC to streamline administrative processes,” he declared.

Source: A Tribuna

To read the original news report, see: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/tunel-santos-guaruja-e-contemplado-no-novo-pac-anunciado-nesta-sexta-feira

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