The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio Freitas (Republican party), said this Wednesday (01) that the Port of Santos “can be privatized this year”, since the project has already been approved by the technical area of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU). The governor commented on the subject with journalists during an event on agribusiness organized by XP in São Paulo.
Tarcísio has already discussed the issue with President Lula and the Minister of the Civil House, Rui Costa. According to the governor, the president stated that “in principle” he is against privatization, but that he is “ready to receive arguments” and that he may change his mind “if the project is good”.
The governor now wants to schedule a conversation with Minister Márcio França, of Ports and Airports, to defend the privatization of the port.
Tarcísio argues that privatization should take place in a block, and not in separate concessions . “The power of decision-making is of higher value there”, he argued. According to him, privatization in separate blocks is what makes investments possible.
He argues that the measure should generate R$ 20 billion in investments. “It’s no use for the company to have R$1.7 billion in cash and not be able to invest”, he defended.
Tarcísio maintained that privatization could generate more jobs with the creation of more berths for docking cruises, expanding the area for containers and investment without mobility.
Source: Valor Econômico
