Dubai – Investments in Latin America and the Caribbean were the theme of the panel that closed the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) this Wednesday (10) in Dubai. One of the panelists were Artur Coimbra Oliveira, director of the department of Broadband of Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communication. “Brazil has good numbers in telecommunications. Over 90% of our cities, for example, have access to 4G. However, when it comes to data centers, there is still a lack,” said Oliveira in an interview to ANBA.
While presenting at the panel “Invest in Latin America and the Caribbean,” he talked about the opportunity to invest in data centers and a motion now being discussed in the government to facilitate licenses to invest and create this kind of business in Brazil.
Other challenges are increasing Internet coverage in the countryside. According to Olivera, 75% of Brazilians have access to the Internet in their homes, but this number falls to 40% when it comes to houses in rural areas. According to him, the sector has been targeted by Arabs, including an important company from Abu Dhabi. This company is Yahsat, which offers satellite broadband services.
Yet another sector that presents challenges and investment opportunities is taking technology and Internet access to the Amazon region. “We want to create a model that preserves but free the people in this region from the lack of access to technology and development. This may be done through public-private partnerships. One of the ideas is using fluvial optical fiber installed along the rivers’ course. They will connect regions and serve communities that live mostly on the riverbanks,” he explained.
The panel also featured lecturers such as Cecilia Plottier Igoa, economic affairs offficer of the Unit of Investment and Corporate Strategies of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) e Jorge Sequeira, managing director of the The Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE).
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
