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Find out why the construction of the giant R$1,5 billion airport, which could create up to 58 jobs, has been stagnant for almost two decades!
In a scenario where opportunities for economic growth and development are waiting, a colossal project is stagnant due to the complex web of bureaucracy.
What could be a turning point for the economy of the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region is stuck in a sea of uncertainty.
The construction of an airport planned to generate up to 58 thousand jobs and move around R$ 1,5 billion has been at a standstill for almost two decades.
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The reason? Bureaucracy and a series of administrative obstacles that block the progress of a project with transformative potential.
The fight against bureaucracy at the airport
Since Cetesb, the environmental agency linked to the State Government, backtracked and suspended the environmental license four years ago, the airport project has faced enormous challenges.
According to a Nilson Regalado from the Gazeta de S. Paulo newspaper, the suspension not only slowed down the progress of the work, but also triggered a series of negative consequences for the development of the region.
Even after a favorable ruling by the Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJ-SP) in October 2021, licensing remains blocked.
Potential impact on the regional economy
The project, called the Andaraguá Airport and Business Complex, promises to significantly increase the region's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The project includes the construction of a runway twice the size of the runway at Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro, and the installation of 847 thousand square meters of industrial warehouses similar to Export Processing Zones (ZPEs).
According to studies carried out by Icipar Empreendimentos e Participações S/A, the complex could not only increase the GDP of Praia Grande and São Vicente, but also promote 20% growth in municipalities with more modest economic activity, such as Mongaguá, Itanhaém and Peruíbe.
Administrative and political challenges
Businessman André Ursini, shareholder of the Andaraguá Complex, highlighted that the lack of administrative continuity at Cetesb, which has had three different governors in four years, may have contributed to the slowness in the licensing process.
“The weight of the State Government’s hand is essential for projects like Andaraguá. This should not be the project of an entrepreneur, it should be a State project,” stated Ursini.
He believes that the lack of an integrated solution is harming a project that could bring great benefits to the region.
Future prospects and benefits
The Andaraguá project is ambitious and aims to create a robust business environment, including not only the airport, but also industries and a shopping center with 87 stores.
Furthermore, the 12 million square meter area, located on the banks of the Padre Manoel da Nóbrega highway, will be partially preserved as a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN), with the creation of a foundation aimed at training the local workforce.
What is at stake
With the potential to generate up to 58 thousand direct and indirect jobs, the Andaraguá Complex represents an unprecedented opportunity for economic development.
“It’s quality employment, with above-average salaries. And today there is no longer industry like we saw 30, 40 years ago in Cubatão, with those chimneys. Today, the industry is clean,” explains André Ursini.
As bureaucracy continues to hamper the project's progress, the need for a quick and effective solution becomes increasingly evident.
The Andaraguá Complex is not just a large-scale project; it is a promise of economic and social change for the entire region.
The question remains: how much longer will the region have to wait for real progress? Do you believe that the lack of a quick solution for the Andaraguá project could affect other economic development initiatives in the region? Share your opinion in the comments!
