Brasilia: Italian companies meet with the Brazilian Minister of Infrastructure

The Italian Embassy in Brasilia organised a meeting between Italian companies operating and interested in Brazil and the Brazilian Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcisio Freitas. The initiative falls within the framework of the “programme of meetings promoted by the Embassy to support Italian companies in this market following the coming into office of the new Brazilian Government,” explained Ambassador Bernardini, who added that “infrastructure represents one of the main areas of potential development for Italian businesses in Brazil, together with the electricity sector, which was the subject of a specific workshop organised by the Embassy in Rio de Janeiro last 13 February”. Italian investments in Brazil mainly go to the processing industry (33.6%), the information and telecommunications technology sector (28%), the electricity and gas sector (14.9%) and the financial sector (9.2%). To date, the census of Italian companies operating in Brazil records the presence of more than 1000 subsidiaries and production plants which make a significant contribution to job creation. The presence of Italian companies is particularly significant in the area of infrastructure. Italian companies continue to invest or announce a rise in their investments, with Italy representing the 7^th largest supplier of goods to Brazil (second-largest among the EU Countries, after Germany and ahead of France, with a total 2.6% share of total Brazilian imports) and the 11^th largest market outlet for Brazilian goods (with Italy importing 1.6% of total Brazilian exports). At the meeting organised by the Italian Embassy, the Brazilian Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcisio Freitas, illustrated the new Government’s policy lines for the development of infrastructure in ports, airports, roads and railways, especially focusing on the opportunity for Italian companies, which were then described in greater technical detail. At the meeting, the Government representatives of Paraná and Santa Catarina outlined the specific investment opportunities in developing the infrastructure of the two southern Brazilian States.