In Brazil, Wellington Moreira Franco, the minister responsible for the country’s port concession programme, has asked for patience in respect of difficulties that have emerged in implementation.
“We have to move slowly, in order to go quickly,” he said. Despite port concessions being labelled as priorities, the concession programme has yet to be launched, although is expected by the end of the month.
Part of the problem seems to be that the role of the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) has yet to be defined.
However, it seems that the government is willing to increase the rate of return on investment to try and attract more investors into the logistics sector, according to remarks made by Maurício Quintella, the Minister of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation. He confirmed he is working with the Treasury Minister on a new tender design for which regulatory and legal changes are also being mooted.
Mr Quintella notes that the original tenders were drawn up in 2013 and much has changed since then in Brazil.
Separately, the National of Waterway Transport Agency (ANTAQ), has approved new regulatory norms covering operational areas in ports run by a public port authority.
One of the main changes is that it is now possible to unify several previously independent concession contracts held by an individual concessionaire.
A new Minister for Ports has also been appointed. Luiz Otávio Campos, an ex-Senator, assumes the role, having previously been the executive secretary of the Ministry of National Integration.
