São Paulo governor-elect fights for port authority privatization

São Paulo’s incoming governor, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, will try to convince president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to advance the privatization of Santos Port Authority (SPA), which runs Brazil's biggest port (pictured).

Gomes de Freitas, who was infrastructure minister in the current Jair Bolsonaro administration, wants to demonstrate how the privatization would spur investments and create jobs, an adviser to Gomes de Freitas told BNamericas, requesting anonymity.

As infrastructure minister, Gomes de Freitas pushed the concessions and privatizations agenda, which included ports. The outgoing government privatized port authorities to help increase investments.

The 35-year SPA contract includes dredging works and the construction of an US$818mn subsea tunnel between the cities of Santos and Guarujá.

Gomes de Freitas’ move comes as the incoming ports and airports minister, Márcio França, promised the new government assuming power January 1 will respect the privatization of Espírito Santo port authority Codesa, but won’t move ahead on other operations.

“Port authorities will remain state-owned firms. What we will do is to offer concessions for areas within ports for private terminals,” França told reporters after his appointment was announced.