10/10/2008 11h33
Viracopos and Galeão will be privatized
Gazeta Mercantil - 10/10/2008
A resolution of the National Council of Denationalization (CND) published in the Official Gazette of the Federal Executive (DOU) yesterday takes another step on the process of privatization of the international airports Antonio Carlos Jobin, Galeão, in Rio de Janeiro, and Viracopos, in Campinas (SP). Signed by the Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade (Mdic), Miguel Jorge, the resolution recommended president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that he should authorize the inclusion of both airports in the National Program of Denationalization (PND). The council also proposes that the National Agency of Civil Aviation (ANAC) should be appointed as responsible for executing and following up the privatization of the equipment currently managed by the Brazilian Company of Airport Infrastructure (Infraero). Tom Jobim's privatization was suggested by governor of Rio de Janeiro Sérgio Cabral (PMDB), in August this year. One month ago, he already defended that the airport management were transferred to the State Government. Cabral claims that the current state of conservation of the equipment may hamper the city's bid for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. As for Viracopos, the second biggest cargo terminal of the country, the government has been investing heavily to, according to the Minister of Defense Nelson Jobim, make the equipment "the biggest airport of São Paulo ". In February, Infraero signed an instrument of mutual cooperation with the administration of Campinas to expropriate areas around the airport. A second landing and take-off runway should be built in the area. The initial cost of the works is around R$ 500 million (US$ 227.3 million). According to Infraero, the importations made through Viracopos set a historical record in the month of August. 15,079 tons were imported by the terminal, the biggest result since the airport's opening. The growth was 23.33% compared to the month of August of 2007, when the activity was 12,226 tons of products.
