Lula sanctions law that creates the 38th government ministry: Entrepreneurship

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) sanctioned this Tuesday (16) the law that creates the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Microenterprise and Small Businesses. The ministry is the 38th of the Lula government and was created by splitting the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC).

The department has been in operation since September 2023, when it was created, originally by provisional measure, published by the federal government and approved by the National Congress. The body is under the command of politician and lawyer Márcio França, who commanded the Ministry of Ports and Airports and was replaced by deputy Silvio Costa Filho (Republicanos-PE), as part of the government’s efforts to expand the centrão’s support in Congress.

“The new portfolio aims to strengthen policies, programs and actions aimed at supporting and formalizing business, local productive arrangements, crafts, in addition to encouraging microcredit and facilitating access to financial resources”, informed Palácio do Planalto, in a note.

The new department took over functions from the MDIC, such as management of micro-enterprises, small businesses, micro-entrepreneurs and public business registration. The law expanded the ministry’s powers to also deal with female entrepreneurship, the promotion of startups and the simplification of interaction between micro and small businesses with public authorities.

Data from Sebrae shows that micro-enterprises and small businesses total almost 21 million enterprises, equivalent to 99% of all national companies.

The sector accounts for 27% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 54% of formal jobs.