Leaders from the public and private sectors met in Brasília on October 22, at the annual MoveInfra event, whose motto this year was “Infrastructure in Movement – Challenges to Transform Brazil” to discuss ways to develop the country´s logistics sector and transport infrastructure. The meeting gave opportunity to debate present challenges facing the segment, emphasizing the need to unite innovation and regulatory stability to enable the country´s sustainable development.

Ultracargo´s CEO, Fulvius Tomelin, took part in the panel entitled “How to finance infrastructure expansion in a high interest rates scenario”, speaking in the presence of Antonio Carlos Duarte Sepúlveda, from Santos Brasil, Marcello Guidotti, from EcoRodovias, and senator Wellington Fagundes; with Daniel Rittner from CNN Brasília acting as moderator.

The topic of the debate was to discuss financial strategies and instruments capable of maintaining the rhythm of investment despite of the present high-interest rate environment. Tomelin highlighted that, in such an environment, the challenge goes beyond the access to resources: it is necessary to warrant the quality and durability of the enterprises.

“Predictability and stability are essential to provide security for the investor and sustainability of the country´s development”, states the CEO, who also called attention regarding the long duration of licensing procedures, which, according to him, is among the main obstacles for expansion of the infrastructure in Brazil. “Each year lost to obtain a license means a delayed return of resources and lost opportunities,” remarked Tomelin.

Another point highlighted was the strengthening of public and legal security as an indispensable condition to attract new investments and to preserve the sector’s competitiveness, by combating illegal practices and building a clearer and more stable regulatory environment — paramount conditions for the advancement of the country’s infrastructure works and services.

At his turn, Ultracargo´s CEO also emphasized the importance of a long-terminal vision and institutional stability. “Interest rates pass, governments pass, but the country´s infrastructure remains. And, for it to remain in place, we need legal certainty and clear legislation in all its aspects,” concluded the executive.

Interview to CNN Money
During the event, Fulvius Tomelin also gave an interview to the CNN Money program, during which he deepened the panel thematic by commenting on the impact of the high Selic interest rate and the legal and physical insecurity on the progress of investments in the country. The executive emphasized that Brazil has the capital and technical capacity to grow but depends on stable and sustainable conditions for long-term investments truly to advance.

Check out the full interview on the CNN Brasil channel: