Rousseff says successful highway auction encourages competition and innovation

Criado em 04/12/13 19h36 e atualizado em 04/12/13 19h48
Por Danilo Macedo Fonte:Agência Brasil

Brasília – President Dilma Rousseff said on Wednesday (Dec. 4) that the auction for the concession of segments from highways BR-060, BR-153 and BR-262 in the Federal District – which comprises Brasília, Brazil’s capital city – and the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais.

While holding her speech during the Finep Innovation Award (granted by Finep, the Brazilian Innovation Agency), Rousseff said that the country should encourage competition more and more over time. Along with investments in innovations, the resources channeled into infrastructure will make it possible for Brazil to reach new development levels.

Rousseff stated that “Today, one of the highway tenders was a success, with a 52% discount. This means that these two components, namely innovation and infrastructure, are in harmony on this day.” The Triunfo Participações e Investimentos consortium won the auction, with a toll proposal of $1.20 for every 100 km, 52% lower than the $2.50 ceiling established by the government.

During the ceremony, she mentioned the role of innovation in the country’s development as well as the importance of this kind of partnership between private and public investments: “Competition in our country will always be associated with our ability to generate innovation, to incorporate this innovation, to translate science and technology into innovation and to enable all our companies to implement these processes, resulting in an production increase and high aggregate value.”

Rousseff also said that the Inova Empresa Plan (English: Innovate, Company!) launched in March by the government, is among the key elements in stimulating innovation in the country. It attracts investments adding up to $13.9 billion from both domestic and international companies, like various luxury car manufacturers. Such companies are expanding their current branches and also building new ones in the country. According to the president, in addition to the unprecedented amount of resources, the plan brings about for the first time the collaboration of several ministries, avoiding repeated measures and making the use of the resources invested more effective, and credit operations widespread.

Edited by José Romildo / Lícia Marques
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira