02/22/2010 11h13

Logistics to triple investments

O Estado de S. Paulo

In the new chart of investments in infrastructure in Brazil, BNDES (National Development Bank) Economist Gilberto Borça Jr., highlights that regardless the maintenance of the protagonism of electric energy and telecommunications the country should take a higher leap in the investments in logistics. Only in the area of ports, the BNDES foresees the investments will practically triple, going from the R$ 5 billion (US$ 2.7 billion) invested between 2005 and 2008 to R$ 14 billion (US$ 7.7 billion) between this year and 2013, a 203% increase. In the same comparison, the investment in railways should increase 81.7%, driven by the project of the High-Speed Train (HST) connecting Rio and São Paulo, whose bidding rules are being outlined.

According to Borça Jr., the movement around these sectors is connected to the definition of new regulatory frameworks and concessions. He also highlights the growth of 77.1% in the funds for sanitation compared to the previous four-year period. "At the end of 2009, the regulatory framework for ports provided more horizons for the sector. The private initiative is also entering in the area of sanitation and it should make 30% to 40% of the investment of R$ 39 billion (US$ 21.7 billion) foreseen for the sector".

Fernando Puga, also of the BNDES, mentions the new stages of the federal programs and of the State of São Paulo of road concessions as the main drivers of the investments estimated at R$ 33 billion (US$ 18.3 billion) for road transportation until 2013, which should grow 7.8% a year. "What we see for the investments in infrastructure is the public sector operating as an inductor of the private investments, holding bids and concessions", said the economist. The BNDES study has not estimated what percentage of the estimated investments should come from the public coffers.