New Director-General of Antaq advocates for open management and closer ties with the port sector during visit to Santos

Frederico Dias came to Santos specifically to participate in Confraria do Porto, at Grupo Tribuna (Sílvio Luiz/AT)

The Director-General of the Agência Nacional de Transportes Aquaviários (Antaq), Frederico Dias, who took office last month, stated on Thursday evening (2) that dialogue will be the cornerstone of his administration at the regulatory agency.

He delivered a speech at Confraria do Porto, held at Grupo Tribuna in Santos. Dias, whose term runs until February 2030, intends to lead the agency in an open and collaborative manner. “I plan to base my administration on dialogue and problem-solving”, he emphasized.

At the event, which brought together business leaders and authorities from the sector, the new Director-General presented a historical overview of the role of regulatory agencies in Brazil since their establishment in the late 1990s. According to him, the autonomy achieved by these institutions was essential to provide security for private investors. “For a long time, it was believed that agencies should be separate from politics, separate from government. But when we look at reality — how can we think about infrastructure today without considering institutions connection, without interaction?”, he noted.

Dias stressed that Antaq is currently an agency with highly strengthened governance and a transparent and reliable decision-making process.

Outlining his strategy, the Director-General explained that dialogue must take place on three levels: internally, with directors and agency staff; institutionally, with bodies such as the Ministério de Portos e Aeroportos (MPor); and with the private sector.

“The agency has very strong synergy with the private sector”, he explained. “When the sector is doing well, it means the agency is fulfilling its role effectively. ”

Among the attendees at Confraria do Porto were the Executive Secretary of MPor, Tomé Franca, and the National Secretary for Ports, Alex Ávila. During the meeting, participants were informed that the Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026, organized by Grupo Tribuna, will take place in China in April.