Fecomércio AM mobilizes businesspeople to discuss measures to combat drought

meeting

Severe drought hit Amazonas in 2023, reaching the lowest level in 121 years

Manaus (AM) — Considering the forecast of another severe drought for Amazonas, the Federation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism held, this Thursday (4), a meeting with businesspeople, union presidents, class entities and representatives of the State Government to discuss strategic actions that can minimize the impacts caused by the climate phenomenon on the productive sector and discuss the creation of a Logistics and Drought Working Group formed by the bodies and institutions present at the meeting.

Among the authorities present were Colonel Francisco Máximo, Executive Secretary of Civil Defense of Amazonas; Serafim Corrêa, Secretary of State for Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation of Amazonas; Evailton Arantes De Oliveira, representing the National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit); Augusto Rocha, representing the Federation of Industries of the State of Amazonas (Fieam); and Muni Lourenço, President of the Agriculture and Livestock Federation of the State of Amazonas.

During the meeting, Dnit and Civil Defense highlighted the current period marked by global climate changes that herald a possible severe drought in 2024.

“The State, in a very provident way, has been taking the initiative through the Civil Defense Protection System to disseminate extremely important information so that there can actually be preparation, understanding that this year we could have a severe drought again”,

explained Colonel Francisco Máximo, Executive Secretary of Civil Defense of Amazonas.

The president of Fecomércio AM, Aderson Frota, highlighted that the severe drought that hit the Amazon in 2023, reaching the lowest level in 121 years, caused great damage to navigation, commerce and the supply of products.

“Last year we had a 300% increase in freight, this bleeds the family budget, harms the purchasing power of the population. On top of that, our commerce and services sector, which is used to receiving payments in 30 to 35 days, suffered a jump of 150 days. Unfortunately, commerce has a tax treatment system that is a little more austere, where we have to pay the ICMS within 45 days of the arrival of the goods, with added value. In other words, even in times of crisis, the merchant continues to pay taxes and all taxes long before getting their hands on the merchandise, with a longer period of time to receive the product, and this decapitalizes companies and generates unemployment”,

highlighted the president.

The Secretary of State for Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation of Amazonas, Serafim Corrêa, highlighted that two points became impassable due to the drought last year: Costa do Tabocal and Enseada do Madeira. He also highlighted that other measures are needed in terms of logistics for the region, in addition to dredging.

“Yesterday there was a meeting between Governor Wilson Lima with Minister Silvio Costa and advisors from the Government of Amazonas and at that meeting the minister announced the availability of R$400 million reais to advance these services that are basic and that the sooner they begin to be done, better for all of us. To avoid, or at least to reduce, the impacts of the drought that we had last year and that, it seems, we will have again this year”,

highlighted the secretary.

Faced with the challenges faced and the importance of a proactive approach to climate adversities, Fecomércio AM is mobilizing the main actors in the production and logistics sector to develop coping strategies and the continuity of commercial operations during periods of drought.

*With information from consultancy

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