Agência Brasil*
Rio de Janeiro – The Brazilian entrepreneurs are willing to make investments to increase industrial production, in spite of the political crisis and the high interest rates economic scenario. A report on the industry of transformation released this Friday (26) by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation reveals that, of the 676 companies interviewed in 2004 and 2005, 59.6% plan on making investments in a superior value in 2005 than in the previous year. The total of investments programmed by the researched companies is of US$ 19.2 billion, 18.2% more than in 2004.
Optimism amongst businessmen is also manifested in the investments/sales relation. For this year, the sum projected reaches 11.1% of sales, the greatest percentage of the decade, according to the Getúlio Vargas Foundation. Last year, this proportion had been of 10%.
Still according to the research, the sector of intermediary goods (inputs for the industry) is the one that accumulates the highest level of installed capacity in the last few years and, for 2005, 60.4% of the businessmen interviewed said they planned on investing more than in 2004. The chemical and metal industries are the highlights of the sector. And in the sector of durable consumer goods, 61.6% of interviewed businessmen said they would invest more than last year. The garments and shoes activities and foodstuff products are the highlights.
The capital goods sector (machinery and equipments) has also shown to have good perspectives for this year. The investments programmed for 2005 are 20% greater than last year. Only in the building materials sector have the businessmen shown to be unenthusiastic in investing this year. From 58 companies consulted, 51.7% said they plan on investing more. However, the projected sum, of US$ 305.3 million, is 16.2% less than the investments made last year.
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
