“Positive signs in relation to the ZFM”, says Saullo Vianna about the design of the Tax Reform

Manaus (AM) – Representative of Amazonas in the Federal Chamber, and member of the Working Group that studies and discusses Tax Reform, deputy Saullo Vianna (União Brasil) addressed, in an exclusive interview to Em Tempo, the process of formulating the new tax system. According to the parliamentarian, both WG members and Federal Government authorities, heard by him, show “very positive signs in relation to the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM). “It seems to me that the political class is consolidating clarity about the importance of the Free Zone. Which indicates that our efforts to inform and raise awareness in Brazil about our regional development model are paying off”.

He also highlighted the importance of the Amazon caucus to get support from caucuses in other states, such as the Northeast caucus, business groups and the working class to guide the design of the Tax Reform in favor of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM). The more support we enlist, the more chances we have of obtaining a text that does not jeopardize our economy.

Saullo Velame Vianna is from Manaus. In 2018, he entered politics when he ran for state deputy, being elected to his first elected position. Already in 2023, he assumes his first term as a federal deputy.

In time – You are one of the members of the Tax Reform Working Group. How have the GT’s actions and articulations been over the last few weeks? Are the negotiations advancing in favor of the Manaus Free Trade Zone?

Saullo Vianna – All the efforts of our group have, until now, been to inform and sensitize the other members of the Working Group that the Manaus Free Trade Zone not only provides an economic, social and environmental service to the Amazon, the country and the planet. And what we have heard so far from WG members and senior federal government officials are very positive signals in relation to the ZFM.

We have declarations from President Lula, from his vice-president, Minister Geraldo Alckmin, from the Extraordinary Secretary for Reform, Bernard Appy and, more recently from the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, that the Free Zone will be treated differently.

The rapporteur for the Refoma PEC, Deputy Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-PB), who has a deep understanding of the matter, has shown himself to be very flexible in the internal discussions of the Amazon claims.

It seems to me that the political class is consolidating clarity about the importance of the Free Zone. Which indicates that our efforts to inform and raise awareness in Brazil about our regional development model are paying off.

ET – The Manaus Free Trade Zone is extremely important for the state of Amazonas. Before taking office, President Luz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that he would defend the economic model. However, government ministers have already demonstrated disagreement with Lula’s speech. What is missing for the authorities, especially those centered in the Southeast of the country, to understand the need for the ZFM in Amazonas?

Saulo Vianna – What is missing, in my view, is that, more and more, we gather support in Congress not only from parliamentarians from the North region, but that benches from the Northeast are mobilized, for example, which have tax incentives and which also need to develop, to the cause of regional inequalities in our country. Another mobilization action must involve the business class and the working class, the ones that will be most harmed if the tax reform does not exceptionalize our model of regional development. The more support we enlist, the more chances we have of obtaining a text that does not jeopardize our economy.

ET – Do you agree that Amazonas needs to look for new economic models? Which paths are possible? How is it possible to align development with environmental protection and defense of the indigenous peoples who live in the region?

Saullo Vianna – Our proposal, already explained to the federal government and the members of the GT, is to maintain our current competitive industrial park and its 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. And on the other hand, receiving incentives for the diversification of our economic matrix, reducing our dependence on the ZFM, but adding new activities linked to our potential: such as the green economy, the sale of carbon credits, the software industry, sustainable mining and the exploration of new gas basins as new economic alternatives that will have great potential.

In the direction of bioeconomy, Minister Alckmin said that it is a matter of a few days for the decree to be published to finally define the legal personality and give full operation to our CBA – Centro de Biotecnologia da Amazônia.

But we make it clear: investing in the diversification of our economy is important, as long as this does not compromise our booming industrial center in Manaus and that we do not lose what we have already won with great difficulty.

ET – Brazil has seen an escalation of violence in the school environment. One of the cases of attacks happened recently at a school in Manaus. In your opinion, how can the country curb this wave of violence in schools? Do you intend to present projects to ensure the safety of children and adolescents in schools?

Saullo Vianna – I think we have to build an emergency safety plan in schools. But not only that. Undertake, also, a massive work of education for peace, for tolerance and include, within the school network, mental health professionals trained to detect children and adolescents predisposed to violent attitudes. And, of course, intensifying Internet surveillance of groups that propagate hate and radicalism on networks.

ET- Lula’s government completed 100 days in office on Monday (10). What is your assessment of the new Federal Government? How has the relationship between the Bench of Amazonas and the Federal Executive been?

Saullo Vianna – I think that the Lula government is making an effort to recover the economy, with the new fiscal framework, and to reduce poverty and increase job creation. Also with the resumption of programs such as Minha Casa, Minha Vida, Mais Médicos, and the new Bolsa Família. It is still too early for a more assertive assessment.

ET – In these two months of office, which projects and actions of your authorship in the Chamber of Deputies would you highlight that were important for Brazil and Amazonas?

Saullo Vianna – In addition to our visits to Ministries and information and awareness actions by Congress and federal authorities about the importance of our Manaus Free Trade Zone, we present many bills that meet the guidelines that I already prioritized when I was still a federal deputy. Examples are the PL that provides for the legal obligation to supply medication to people with autism, which prohibits armed people from entering public and private events, and the project that regulates the veterinary profession and imposes more severe penalties on those who commit irregularities in the exercise of the office, among others.

ET – What are your future plans in the coming months as a federal deputy?

Saullo Vianna – Do my best and continue to defend the interests of the people of Amazonas, in the certainty that we still have a lot to conquer for our state.

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