Rio de Janeiro – Public and private investment in the state of Rio de Janeiro between 2011 and 2013 should reach 181.4 billion reals, equivalent to US$ 102 billion, of which 75% concern the industry sector.
The data were culled from the new edition of the Decisão Rio (Decision Rio) survey, of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan), presented today (31st) to foreign investors at an event promoted by the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, United States.
The manager of New Investment and Infrastructure of Sistema Firjan, Cristiano Prado, told Agência Brasil that the state of Rio de Janeiro is currently receiving one of the largest investment volumes in the world. "Investment should reach 182 million reals between 2011 and 2013. A large share is linked to the oil industry, but large volumes also concern the construction of infrastructure and industry, in particular steelmaking and shipbuilding."
Considering the size of the state, the projected investment is 4.17 million reals (US$ 2.54 million) per square kilometre (km²). Rio de Janeiro has 43,700 km².
In terms of funds, investment has grown by 40% compared with the previous edition of the survey, said the economist. "It is a display of the power of Rio de Janeiro when it comes to investment these days." In the previous edition of Decisão Rio, which covered the 2010-2012 period, the investment forecast was 126 billion reals (US$ 77 billion). Based on the estimated dollar value at that time, which was US$ 60 billion, investment has increased by 70%.
Approximately 150 businessmen from multinational companies attended the event. They showed interest in infrastructure, heavy and civil construction, and services, such as insurance, "aside, of course, from opportunities linked to the [2016] Olympic Games," said Prado.
United States businessmen, said the economist, are too far removed from investment opportunities in Rio de Janeiro, and seem to have answered the call made by the United States president, Barack Obama, in his recent visit to Brazil, during which he encouraged partnerships between enterprises from the two countries.
According to him, there is much space for North American entrepreneurs to invest in Rio. "That was the message conveyed here [in Washington]: invest in Rio, where lots of jobs, lots of income and opportunities may be generated, not only to domestic but to foreign companies as well."
According to the Firjan economist, businessmen from the United States have realized that the business opportunities listed in the survey exceed the short term and extend beyond the Olympics. "They have expressed willingness to get to know these opportunities better in coming events, such as the World Economic Forum, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro this year."
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum