NEWS

In the context of CEBRI’s Infrastructure Working Group, Catavento analyzed the logistics infrastructure sector and the Brazil-China relationship in the white paper – “Logistics infrastructure in the Southeast region: an analysis of possible paths for a partnership between Brazil and China”.

The methodology applied in this white paper was based on desk research analysis; interviews with experts and discussion roundtables. The desk research focused on the two aspects that are the centerpiece of this work. Different aspects were considered regarding infrastructure, such as its impact on the country’s competitiveness; investment needs; logistics bottlenecks in Southeast region. The second round of analysis focused on issues related to Chinese investments in Brazil, including relevant sectors and stakeholders; key motivations and ambitions of Chinese institutions in the country and potential barriers to leverage a collaborative agenda.

The second phase of the project relied on interviews with different specialists from the private sector, academia and government. The experts were selected considering their expertise: five experts on infrastructure and logistics and five Brazil-China relationship specialists.

Finally, the elaboration of this white paper benefitted from the inputs of two roundtables with high-level executives and senior specialists. The first event – “Infraestrutura logística na região Sudeste: desafios e oportunidades para atração de investimentos”- was held in March 26th at CEBRI’s headquarters. Clarissa Lins moderated the debate with the participation of Mauro Viegas Neto – President at Concremat Engenharia e Tecnologia -, Marcelo Allain – Managing Partner at BR Infra Group – and Eduardo Costa – Logistic Manager at BNDES. The event had the objective of mapping the most relevant bottlenecks in the logistics of the Southeast region, as well as identifying possible investment opportunities.

The second event – “Brazil and China: fomenting a long-term partnership in the infrastructure sector-Opportunities in the Southeast region” – was held in May 6^th at CEBRI’s headquarters. André Clark – CEBRI’s Infrastructure Working Group Coordinator and CEO at Siemens Brazil – moderated the debate with the participation of: Anna Jaguaribe – China Working Group coordinator and CEBRI Trustee -, Ambassador Marcos Caramuru – Partner at KEMU Consultoria, – Ambassador Luiz Augusto de Castro Neves – Chairman at China-Brazil Business Council (CEBC) -, TaoTao Chen – Professor of International Business at Tsinghua University -, Renato Baumann – Under Secretary of Investments of the Foreign Trade Chamber (CAMEX) – and Miguel Flaksman – Executive Managing Director at BOCOM BBM. The event aimed at analyzing the main challenges and opportunities to the Brazil-China long-term partnership, on top of identifying potential pathways to foster Chinese investments in the infrastructure sector.

Therefore, based on the inputs and analyses gathered throughout the previous phases, the paper concluded that the infrastructure sector could be boosted by the development of a long-term vision, contributing to the definition of priority projects, with enough guarantees for new investments. At the same time, the promotion of a more integrated and centralized governance can significantly reduce bureaucratic procedures and regulatory complexities, leveraging the private sector participation. All these suggested drivers can foster private and foreign investments with the development of an attractive business environment.

In this sense, there is an opportunity to benefit from the global shift in the Chinese investment orientation. Chinese infrastructure capabilities, as well as its capital availability, represent an opportunity to develop a modern and sustainable infrastructure in Brazil

Click here to download the white paper. The key messages of this study were summarized in a presentation (.pdf), click here the access.