Insider

Brazilian Infrastructure Minister plans New York investment roadshow

electoral Bolsonaro plans privatization-palooza
Presidente Dutra roadway. Photo: Ranimiro/Shutterstock

Tarcísio de Freitas, Brazil’s Infrastructure Minister and a close ally of President Jair Bolsonaro, has scheduled a visit to New York City to present the country’s portfolio of infrastructure investment projects to potential investors.

As the government confirmed to The Brazilian Report, Mr. Freitas’s schedule will include meetings between October 4-8. As we reported in the August 9 issue of our Brazil Weekly newsletter, the government plans to auction off 13 assets between October 29 and November 25 — a move now being dubbed “Infra Month” within the administration. The hope is to raise BRL 28 billion (USD 5.3 billion) in investment.

The administration hopes investors will be enticed by auctions of roadways and port terminals which are crucial to the transport of goods around Brazil. The crown jewel is the Presidente Dutra highway, which connects São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The current concession deal will expire next year, and the Infrastructure Ministry expects multiple bidders for what is the country’s biggest road concession in overall traffic terms.