FIEP Promotes Port Improvements to House Subcommittee
A meeting held in Paranaguá stressed the critical coordination necessary between the executive and legislative branches of the government as well as industry to improve port infrastructure in Paraná.
The need for coordination between the state and federal government to improve the infrastructure in the ports of Paranaguá and Antonina was promoted by FIEP on Monday, July 11, during a meeting held at the Port Authority of Paranaguá and Antonina (APPA) with members of the Subcommittee on Ports and Waterways Commission for Roads and Transportation of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Logistics, José Richa Filho.
Among efforts FIEP considers essential for the two ports of Paraná are maintenance dredging and deepening of the berths, the access channel and basin; the expansion of the capacity of the export corridor ramps; upgrading the equipment to operate in rainy weather; the construction of new storage structures; construction of the west pier; and improvement of access routes, both rail and road, to the port.
FIEP’s suggestions were made by the federation’s vice president, Hélio Bampi, and sent to the representatives that make up the Ports and Waterways subcommittee: Alberto Mourão (PSDB-SP), President; Luiz Argôlo (PP-BA); and rapporteur Zeca Dirceu (PT-PR). In the morning, the MPs visited the Port facilities and were familiarized with government plans to expand the state’s port infrastructure and improve route access.
The goal of the subcommittee at this point is to improve the diagnosis of status of Brazilian seaports and report the necessary work in the Multiyear Plan (Plano Plurianual or PPA) of the Federal Government. To this end, lawmakers have chosen six major ports in the country to analyze for their potential for bottlenecks.
According to Hélio Bampi, the initiative has been positive. The industrial sector accounts for one third of the GDP of Paraná, but depends on a host of logistical factors that weigh on the efficiency of the operations. ”The port is critical to the economic development of the state,” he said. The transport bottlenecks, especially maritime, have systematically undermined the competitiveness of the industry of the state.
According to Congressman Zeca Dirceu, who is responsible for the budget that includes visits to Paranaguá for the subcommittee, the participation of industry representatives such as FIEP in the discussion is of great importance. “Bottlenecks are invariably a part of the perception of port users,” said Mr. Dirceu.
By 2014, the state government will conduct nine major upgrades to the ports of Paranaguá and Antonina, including the construction of berths, storage silos, a container terminal, and a passenger terminal – aiming to harness the tourism potential of the region – and construction of the west pier, among other work. According to José Richa Filho, major investments in ports of Paraná have been neglected for nearly 30 years, thus the importance of an “alliance with the legislature” to compete for resources through the PPA.
Mr. Bampi reiterated the support of FIEP on the project. He said there is a common perception among the federations representing industry (Fecomércio, ACP, FACIAP, FAEPA, Ocepar, Fetranspar, among others) that it is necessary to foster greater communication between state and federal government resources to facilitate the necessary reforms to improve Paraná’s ports.
Participants:
Representing FIEP at the meeting in addition to vice president Hélio Bampi was the coordinator of the thematic and sectoral councils, Edward Knechtel; the adviser to the president, John Arthur Mohr; federation logistics consultant Mário Stamm; coordinator of the Thematic Council of Environment and Natural Resources, Roberto Gava; FIEP counselor Arthur Oscar Krueger; and the executive of the furniture union, Emerson Langner.
Also present at the meeting were the mayor of Paranaguá, José Baka Filho; the superintendent of the APPA, Airton Maron; and representatives of the National Agency of Waterway Transportation (ANTAQ); the Federation of Freight Transport Enterprises of Paraná (Fetranspar); the Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural Association of Paranaguá (ACIAP); the Federation of Trade and Business Associations of Paraná (FACIAP); the Association of Port Wardens of Paraná; the Stevedore’s Union (Sindestiva); the Inspector’s Union; Union of Port Workers (Sintraport); and Antonina city council ministers.
Based on an article from FIEP’s website.
Translated into English by J. Bruce Bell
