Economy gives new vigor to Baixada in 2010
DCI
The administration of the eight municipalities of the Region of the Baixada Santista highlighted, in an interview to DCI, the sectors that had the best performance in their economy this year. According to them, civil engineering, commerce and services were the activities that drove the economic growth of the region in 2009. During the interviews, all municipal governments said they were optimistic for the year 2010, mainly regarding the expectations of investments driven by the exploration of the pre-salt layer in the Basin of Santos and by the resumption of the economy with the overcoming of the international financial crisis.
The Municipality of Santos, 19th city in the ranking of city GDPs of the country, had positive variation in the level of jobs from 2008 to 2009 in the sectors of: civil engineering, 8.49%; commerce, 2.84%; services, 0.54%; and processing industry, 1.83%. The Planning Secretary, Bechara Neves, affirmed that Santos already receives investment boosted by the pre-salt layer. The main one is the Petrobras business unit that is under construction. "Santos is sought by companies from all over the world and there is a trend of consolidation of the energy vector, which is getting stronger", said Bechara. With the new businesses, the municipal administration foresees growth of 17% in tax revenues.
Similar results are found in São Vicente, where civil engineering and commerce were the fastest growing sectors in 2009 and the pre-salt layer generates strong expectation of investments in 2010. "We have 20 major undertakings underway, and with the novelty of the pre-salt, 12 large companies related to the sector are studying establishing themselves in the municipality", said the Secretary for Port Business, Fernando Bispo.
São Vicente projects 5% growth in its tax revenues for next year. According to Bispo, the increase in the tax collection results from the construction of an industrial airport complex in São Vincente and Praia Grande, which will amount to an investment of R$ 38 billion (US$ 22.1 billion). Civil engineer was one of the sectors that developed the most in Guarujá as well, according to the Secretariat for Development. The press office informed that the Secretariat expects better results for the economy in 2010.
The Mayor of Mongaguá, Paulo Wiazowski, affirmed 2009 showed a 20% boom in the real estate sector. The Mayor of Peruíbe, Milena Bargieri, said in 2009 the sectors of tourism and commerce and services stood out in the municipality. The budget for 2010 is R$ 152 million (US$ 88,4 million), an increase of 25% compared to 2009.