Aloizio Mercadante takes office as president of BNDES

Appointment

The ceremony took place with the presence of the President of the Republic, Lula da Silva (PT)

Former minister Aloizio Mercadante was sworn in yesterday (6) as the new president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) at the institution’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. In his inauguration speech, he recalled that he fought for the democratization of Brazil and that he takes office at a challenging time for the country.

Mercadante, still speaking, highlighted the role of the President of the Republic in guaranteeing democracy in the country. “Only its history, the quality of its governments, its commitment to the country and its ability to build alliances could defeat the authoritarianism and setbacks that threatened to devastate the civilizing achievements of the Brazilian people”, he said.

According to the new president of the BNDES, it is the largest development bank in the Americas and has been at the forefront of making long-term financing viable in the country’s major expansion cycles. “Only eight countries in the world have the technological capacity to produce aircraft and Brazil is one of them. Today, Embraer is a success story of Brazilian talent that, in 125 years, has had BRL 25 billion in financing from the BNDES for the export of 1,275 aircraft to numerous countries,” he pointed out.

Export

For Aloizio Mercadante, the planning of the institution’s new management includes support for exports, such as the export of agricultural products. “Ninety-eight percent of the existing market in the world is outside Brazil. It is important to be competitive, Brazilian companies need to compete in this market and gain scale, competitiveness and efficiency”, he concluded.

In Mercadante’s view, the BNDES should support the pre- and post-shipment of exports of goods and products. “We are developing a project to set up an Eximbank [banco financiador de exportações] in Brazil at the BNDES, which already exists in the main economies of the world”, he revealed.

The new management will support with more determination the growth and modernization of micro, small and medium-sized companies, which are great generators of employment and income. “The great challenge for the success of the agenda for micro, small and medium-sized companies will be in partnership with the National Congress and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Nivation. We will debate to adjust the long-term rate, the TLP, that the BNDES uses today”, he commented.

Environment

Mercadante also defended a radical change in the economic and financial system to face the climate and social emergency, without which the planet has no chance of surviving and prospering. “We are very close to an environmental catastrophe of no return, and social tragedy is everywhere. Transitioning to a low-carbon economy with low-emission, green jobs is an imperative that will guide the bank’s strategy, but we need to do more. There will be no future without preserving the Amazon and other biomes. This will be a BNDES priority for the future”, he concludes.

Tax reform

The vice-president and Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), highlights in his analysis that the elections for President of the Chamber and President of the Senate will be important for the progress of the tax reform. “Both presidents pledged to accelerate the forwarding of fundamental tax reform, essential for flourishing industry and economic efficiency,” he said.

Read more:

Banco do Brasil announces competition for 6,000 vacancies throughout Brazil

Internship: TJAM opens registration for database in 21 areas

Arrascaeta, from Flamengo, is on the bench and Uruguay draws 0-0 with South Korea