Brazil’s Government to Spend R$2 Billion on Unfinished Projects

By Lise Alves, Senior Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s federal government announced on Monday, November 7th, it plans to invest more than R$2 billion to conclude works which have been paralyzed throughout the country due to the recent economic and political turbulence.

“Obviously we have as a goal, at least, in the next 90 days, 120 days, about 1,100 works that are paralyzed, which include kindergartens, pre-schools, basic health units and even airports,” said President Michel Temer on Monday, before the start of a cabinet meeting convened to discuss the matter.

According to the government, a total of more 1,600 works are scheduled to restart until June of 2017, opening up 45,000 job positions. These works, drawn up, planned and started during the Rousseff administration, are spread out throughout the country, in more than 1,000 cities in the 26 states and the capital, Brasilia. According to the President, the cost of each of the works selected by the Administration to be concluded will range from R$500,000 to R$10 million.

Brazil’s leader also said during the meeting that when making the list of the works to be restarted, his team kept in mind the federal government’s spending limit plan, waiting for Congressional approval, noting the importance of legislative support in the completion of these works.

To insure government accountability, President Temer also announced that the progress of each and every project could be followed by an app called Desenvolve Brasil (Develop Brazil). “Any citizen can follow the progress of the works and may suggest, object, add, or make suggestions,” he concluded.