Wilson Lima says that the Amazon agenda is different from the world’s environmental agenda

Washington (USA) – Governor Wilson Lima spoke this Friday (9/1) at a meeting of LIDE – Group of Business Leaders – in Washington, United States, and warned that while the world is discussing technologies such as the metaverse and artificial intelligence, the populations of Amazon still yearn for innovations from past centuries, such as basic sanitation, electricity and communication.

“The Amazon’s environmental agenda is different from the world’s agenda because while the world discusses the metaverse, artificial intelligence and other technologies, in the Amazon we are looking for those innovations from the 18th and 19th centuries: electricity, internet, sanitation, the basics for that our population can survive. People know the forest only by the treetops and ignore or ignore the true roots, which are the people”,

highlighted Governor Wilson Lima.

The unprecedented meeting held by LIDE brings together governors and mayors of Brazil with representatives of three financial organizations headquartered in Washington: the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). It also brings together international and national authorities, parliamentarians, public managers and businessmen. The objective is to strengthen dialogue and attract investment.

The statement by the governor of Amazonas, the largest state in Brazil in terms of territory, with the largest and most preserved area of ​​the Amazon, was made in the panel “Funding Opportunities for Infrastructure and Public Services in Brazilian States and Municipalities”,

with the presence of other state governors and mayors of Brazilian cities.

According to Wilson Lima, the event is important so that the states, mainly in the Amazon, have the opportunity to exchange experiences, present demands and also understand how these organizations work, aiming to expand partnerships in priority projects for the development of the region, especially in the area of infrastructure aimed at populations that live farther from urban centers.

“These people need the basics in the countryside. The state of Amazonas has half of its population on the poverty line and with poverty there is no way to protect the forest. And we only fight poverty with development, opportunity for people, with job and income generation and with what is basic, what is essential”,

warned Wilson Lima.

International Credit for the Amazon

Currently, the Government of Amazonas has financing from the IDB for the development of the Social and Environmental Program of Manaus and Interior (Prosamin+). In Manaus, an area of ​​340 thousand square meters (m²), along the Igarapé do Quarenta, in a stretch between Manaus 2000 avenue, in Japiim, south zone, and Sharp Community, in the Armando Mendes neighborhood, east zone, is being urbanized, with the resettlement of 2,383 families.

In all, with Prosamin+ in Manaus, more than 60,000 people will benefit from basic sanitation works, urban drainage, housing, parks and squares and new roads. Investments add up to around US$ 114 million, of which US$ 80 million is financed by the IDB and US$ 34 million by the state counterpart. The works started in 2022 and should continue until 2025.

The State is also developing the Parintins Integrated Sanitation Program (Prosai), which foresees investments of US$ 87.5 million (approximately R$ 400 million), of which US$ 70 million (R$ 320 million) are also financed by the IDB and the counterpart of the Government of Amazonas of US$ 17.5 million (R$ 80 million).

The program will urbanize an area at risk of flooding in the region known as Lagoa da Francesa, with the objective of solving the area’s environmental, urbanistic and social problems, resettling 832 families. Construction is expected to start in the first half of 2024.

In addition, from the World Bank, Amazonas obtained a loan, in December 2020, in the amount of US$ 200 million for fiscal sustainability and transparency actions. The project includes a set of reforms, including social security and legislation in the area of ​​fiscal responsibility; institutional reform and other environmental issues. Discussions are underway to obtain a second loan of the same amount to reinforce actions in these same areas.

About Lide

The LIDE Brasil Development Forum takes place on the 1st and 2nd of September in the North American capital and is part of the cycle of international initiatives with the objective of stimulating dialogue and attracting investments to the country. With the central theme “Potentials for Multilateral Investments in Brazil”, issues such as the country’s sustainable development, economic prospects, sanitation, renewable energies, environment, health, education, infrastructure and public services are on the agenda.

Among the exhibitors are the president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn; the director of the World Bank for Brazil, Johannes Zutt; the president of the Central Bank of Brazil, Roberto Campos Neto; the vice-president of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, Alfonso Garcia Mora; and the general director of IFC Brazil, Carlos Leiria Pinto.

Also participating in the event are the President of the Senate and National Congress, Rodrigo Pacheco; Senator Davi Alcolumbre; governors Gladson Cameli (AC), Ronaldo Caiado (GO), Claudio Castro (RJ) and Marcos Rocha (RO); and co-chairman of LIDE, João Doria.

*With advisory information

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