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With R$3,6 billion released, Transnordestina is ready to create jobs and revolutionize logistics in Brazil, integrating the Northeast into the global market with new export routes and efficient transportation.
O brazilian railway sector is about to undergo a historic revolution, with direct impacts on the socioeconomic development of the Northeast.
What seemed like a distant dream to many is now approaching reality, with the promise of accelerating the construction of the Transnordestina, a project that could change the course of the country's infrastructure. However, what is really at stake? What will be the immediate impacts of this colossal project?
At the heart of this change is the federal government's announcement that more than R$3,6 billion will be earmarked for the completion of a crucial extension of the Transnordestina, connecting the municipality of Eliseu Martins, in Piauí, to the Port of Pecém, in Ceará.
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This railroad, 1.209 kilometers long, will also cross the state of Pernambuco, expanding logistics routes and accelerating the flow of goods, while promising to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the region.
New impetus for Transnordestina
The meeting that sealed this strategic decision took place on September 17, convened by the Minister of Integration and Regional Development, Waldez Góes.
Representatives from agencies such as the Banco do Nordeste do Brasil (BNB), the Superintendence for the Development of the Northeast (Sudene) and the Civil House participated in the meeting. During the meeting, the representatives discussed the next steps to ensure the continuity of the works, which are already underway.
According to information from the ministry, the Transnordestina railway is of vital importance for the logistical and economic development of the region.
“The railway is strategically important for transporting production and also for supplying the Northeast. It is a very important project for the development of the region,” said Minister Góes. This sentence highlights not only the economic but also the social relevance of this infrastructure.
The importance of the railway for the economy of the Northeast
Transnordestina is part of the context of the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), a government initiative that aims not only to accelerate economic growth, but also to promote social inclusion.
According to Eduardo Tavares, National Secretary of Funds and Financial Instruments at the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR), the railway will be one of the most important for Brazil's development. Furthermore, its construction will create jobs and bring new investments to the region.
Specifically in the state of Ceará, the project is expected to generate around four thousand direct and indirect jobs.
The creation of jobs is in line with the government's commitment to using major infrastructure projects to boost the job market, especially in regions with lower development rates.
New concession and technological improvements
Another highlight was the discussion about the implementation of a new railway concession. The new feature is that this concession will include a wide gauge network, measuring 1,6 meters, allowing the use of larger wagons, which should increase the efficiency of goods transportation.
“We are seeking to accelerate this major delivery of the New PAC so that the Northeast can count on one of the most important railways for the development of Brazil,” highlighted Tavares.
The choice of a wide gauge is not random. It will allow the railway to support wagons with greater load capacity, which should reduce logistics costs, in addition to improving the competitiveness of products exported by the Northeast.
In total, the work is budgeted at R$7 billion, with more than half of this amount already guaranteed by the government, and is expected to be completed by 2026.
President Lula's visit to Ceará and the release of funds
The most recent financial boost for Transnordestina came with President Lula's visit to Ceará on August 2, 2024, when the release of an additional R$3,6 billion was announced. The total value of the project is expected to exceed R$7 billion, consolidating it as one of the largest infrastructure projects underway in Brazil.
Impacts for the future and the relevance of the project for Brazil
Expectations regarding the economic impacts are very high. The railway will not only facilitate the flow of agricultural and industrial products, but will also transform the Northeast into a crucial logistics hub for Brazil.
The connection between the interior of Piauí and the Port of Pecém will create new export routes, increasing the competitiveness of northeastern products in the global market.
Although the logistical and investment challenges are immense, the federal government is betting that the acceleration of the works will bring benefits beyond the Northeast, integrating it even further with the rest of Brazil and international markets.
With such a high investment and such promising impacts, will Transnordestina really be able to transform the Northeast into a new logistics and economic hub in Brazil?
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