A state government delegation, led by Vice Governor Darci Piana, presented on Thursday (28) the ongoing infrastructure projects in Paraná to a group of Canadians, made up of investors, pension funds and engineering companies. The Online Roadshow is an initiative of Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Consulates in Brazil and the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce in Toronto.
Piana made a presentation of the actions in development and showed the potential of the State to receive investments. He pointed out that Paraná is one of the largest food producers in the world, home to the largest agro-food cooperatives in Latin America, and that it is now moving towards the industrialization of products to add more value. to production.
The top priority for the state administration, said the vice-governor, is to transform Paraná into a logistics hub for South America. For this, it is estimated that investments in infrastructure and logistics will exceed R $ 80 million in the coming years, with plans to expand the capacity of highways, ports, airports and railways.
“Paraná has a close relationship and looks a lot like Canada. We rely on foreign capital to help us carry out our planning, including, of course, Canadian capital. We can and must strengthen the relationship and develop business and bilateral agreements, ”said Piana.
DIFFERENTIALS – Director of economic development and international and institutional relations at Invest Paraná, a public body responsible for prospecting and attracting investments, Giancarlo Rocco, presented the group with the overall figures of the State.
He mentioned as one of the main differentials in favor of Paraná its geographical location, at the center of 70% of the gross domestic product of South America and close to important cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte. , Porto Alegre, Buenos Aires, Asunción and Montevideo.
“We are looking to attract private investment to the state, which has totaled over R $ 80 billion since 2019, but also to help take Paraná companies abroad. There is a lot of potential here, ”he said, citing as an example the process of concessioning federal and state highways, with financial support estimated at R $ 44 billion.
NEW FERROWEST – Another project highlighted during the roadshow was that of Nova Ferroeste, a railway line in the final phase of studies that will link Maracaju, in Mato Grosso do Sul, to the port of Paranaguá. The initiative is expected to be auctioned, on the Stock Exchange (B3), in São Paulo, in the first half of 2022, with planned investments of more than R $ 20 billion.
“It is a green and sustainable project, which will make Paraná more competitive, making it possible to reach new markets, with investments and reinvestments. All this, generating more jobs and income for the population, ”commented the coordinator of the State Rail Plan Working Group, Luiz Henrique Fagundes.
“These are projects and actions that can bring Paraná and Canada even closer together,” said Carolina Albernaz, CEO of the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce in Toronto. “I’m from Paraná and I know what’s good about the state. We can expand the exchange with technical visits, in person, ”added Brazilian Ambassador to Canada Pedro Bório.
PRESENCE – The CEO of Invest Paraná, Eduardo Bekin, participated in the virtual meeting; the Trade Commissioner for the Infrastructure Sector at the Consulate General of Canada in São Paulo, Márcio Francesquine; and the institutional relations advisor of the city of Curitiba, Rodolpho Zannin Feijó.
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