Brazilian government defends keeping all the country’s ports and no privatizations

The Brazilian government defended yesterday that the public administration should maintain all the country’s ports and not make any sales to the private initiative, as the previous administration had begun to design.

As explained Wednesday by the Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio Franca, no public port in Brazil is currently loss-making and criticized the previous government of Jair Bolsonaro for wanting to privatize the country’s ports.

“If it were an idea (to privatize ports) with international parameters, we would say that we did not do it, but it does not exist in the world, only frustrated examples,” said the minister.

Franca gave as an example the Port of Santos, the largest in Brazil and South America, whose privatization faces the federal government and the government of the state of Sao Paulo, a supporter of its sale.

“It makes no sense for the Port of Santos to have US$2.5 billion invested in funds to make money from financial speculation while the port needs infrastructure works,” said the minister while participating in the Forum of the Brazilian Association of Infrastructure and Basic Industries (Abdib).

Franca said that the Brazilian government could accept the sale of some terminals of the port of Santos but not of its port authority since it is considered strategic.

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