Nova Serrana, in Minas Gerais, where the unemployment rate is zero
The city is responsible for the production of 55% of the sports shoes made in the country, and has one of the lowest poverty indices in Minas Gerais. The city, which has just 50,000 inhabitants, produces 77 million pairs of shoes annually. Of its 854 companies, 76.3% are micro and 21.5% are small. Together they generate 21,000 direct jobs. Considered a model Local Productive Arrangement (LPA), the city is going to receive Brazilian Development Bank support in 2005.
Por Mark Ament
