Infrastructure investments in Brazil are expected to reach R$ 300 billion by 2026.
According to estimates from Abdib, Brazil could reach a record level of R$ 300 billion in infrastructure investments in 2026, stated Venilton Tadini, president of the organization.
The projection indicates that the transportation and logistics segments, with R$ 76.5 billion, and sanitation, with R$ 44.5 billion, will be the main drivers of growth. Electricity, despite leading in terms of resource volume, should also sustain the sector's positive performance.
According to Abdib's calculations, Brazil needs to invest at least 4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in infrastructure, which is equivalent to approximately R$ 500 billion per year. "There is a gap of almost R$ 240 billion needed," said Tadini.
According to the organization's president, even if the entire stock of approximately 500 projects, with over R$ 750 billion projected, were implemented, the country would still not reach, in the short term, the level considered necessary for development.
“We are talking about a volume of investments that would need to grow significantly to reach R$ 500 billion annually for at least ten years. This is fundamental to raising the infrastructure stock from 35% to 55%, a level observed in developed countries,” he said.
Tadini celebrated the increase in private investment in recent years, but stressed that, for Brazil to reach this level, it is necessary to reinforce public investment, which currently represents only 17% of the total.
“Public investment is fundamental to ensuring that this growth occurs in a planned manner and with the appropriate priorities. Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge is the lack of clear coordination between the different branches of government to align the budget with infrastructure priorities,” he stated.
The president of Abdib also criticized the volume of parliamentary amendments, which, according to him, end up occupying space in the budget that could be directed to structuring projects.
“What we have today are parliamentary amendments being directed in a disjointed way. There is a large amount of resources — around R$ 58 billion — being allocated to projects without connection to the government's medium and long-term strategies. This needs to be rethought,” he declared.
For Tadini, the positive investment scenario is the result of a combination of factors, with emphasis on the creation of the Investment Partnerships Program (PPI) of the federal government.
“The PPI was crucial because it promoted greater articulation between regulatory agents, the Executive Branch, oversight agencies and official banks,” he stated.
According to the executive, the program reduced the rigidity and distance between the parties, by bringing, for example, the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) closer to the negotiation process.
"The TCU (Federal Court of Accounts) and other oversight bodies have begun to act in a more coordinated manner. Regulatory and contractual issues have become clearer and more systematic, which has increased predictability for investors," he stated.
