Wilson Lima presents a proposal that gives security to the Amazon in the tax reform

tax changes

The suggestions will be analyzed by technicians from the Ministry of Finance to define the best wording for the articles that Amazonas proposes

Manaus (AM) – Governor Wilson Lima, accompanied by the federal bench of Amazonas, presented, this Wednesday (5th), in Brasília, in a meeting with the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad, a proposal for the text of the tax reform that provides legal certainty, maintains the competitiveness of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM) and provides for the creation of a fund to compensate for losses in revenue for the State.

The suggestions will be analyzed by the ministry’s technicians to, by consensus, define the best wording of the articles that Amazonas proposes.

In addition to the governor and the minister, senators Omar Aziz (caucus coordinator) and Eduardo Braga participated in the meeting; the eight federal deputies: Amon Mandel; Adail Filho; Saullo Viana; Fausto Santos Jr; Atila Lins; Silas Câmara; Sidney Leite; Captain Alberto Neto; and the State Secretary of Finance, Alex Del Giglio.

In the discussions, Wilson Lima recognized the commitment of the Federal Government to listen to all sides in order to find a path towards consensus. And he reinforced to the minister that the Free Zone is decisive for the Amazon.

The governor pointed out that Amazonas’ concerns involve ensuring the maintenance of tax incentives granted to companies located in the Manaus Free Trade Zone; the State’s collection; and the development of the model with the expansion of investments in sectors such as the bioeconomy.

“The tax reform causes us concerns and we have been discussing these issues so that the economic model that works today in the state of Amazonas, which is the Manaus Free Trade Zone, can be maintained. The industry represents something around 30% of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product), 50% of our income and, at the end of the day, represents something around 70% of our economic activity“,

declared Wilson Lima, reinforcing that the State supports the tax reform.

Appointed by President Lula to assist the governor and the bench, Fernando Haddad recognized the importance of the Manaus Free Trade Zone for local development and for the preservation of the forest. The minister reinforced that the position of the Federal Government is to guarantee the maintenance of the ZFM until 2073 – which is the constitutional deadline – and that it also seeks to design an economic development model that includes an understanding between the Brazilian states.

“I received a series of suggestions to be incorporated into the report by Deputy Aguinaldo Ribeiro, who received sympathy from us to treat the Free Zone with greater attention, since President Lula’s respect and admiration for this project is known, which guarantees the sustainability of the region, which today is a matter of international concern”,

said Minister Haddad.

Proposal submitted

The text proposes the establishment of the so-called Fund for Compensation, Sustainability and Economic Diversification of the State of Amazonas, which will be constituted with resources from the Union and managed by it, with 40% being allocated to the State to recover revenue losses with the change the taxation regime; and 60% for the creation of new economic matrices.

The proposal presented to the Ministry of Finance also ensures the necessary mechanisms to maintain the competitive differential for the production, sale or import of goods that have industrialization in the Manaus Free Trade Zone, in addition to also guaranteeing the Free Trade Areas the favored tax treatment.

ZFM in the Reformation

On June 6, when the report of the work group (GT) of the Federal Chamber that discusses the tax reform was read, Governor Wilson Lima had already spoken, by telephone, with Minister Haddad to place the state of Amazonas available to answer questions from the government’s economic team and ensure the maintenance of the Free Zone’s competitiveness.

In addition, in light of the acknowledgment by the reform’s rapporteur, federal deputy Aguinaldo Ribeiro (PP-PB), when highlighting that the model is essential for the economic development of the North region, Wilson Lima thanked the deputies of the WG, especially those elected for Amazonas, in defense of the ZFM, which generates more than 500,000 direct and indirect jobs in urbanized areas and guarantees the protection of the forest.

*With advisory information

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