Port of Santos needs to integrate with the cities of Baixada Santista, says secretary

Strengthening the relationship of the Port of Santos with all the cities of Baixada Santista will help boost regional growth, says the state secretary of Economic Development, Jorge Lima. To achieve this, he emphasizes, the Port cannot stand on a pedestal above the municipalities, that is, be more important than the cities. There must be an integration that everyone benefits.

"No one denies the importance of the Port, that is obvious. What I advocate is that Baixada Santista is bigger than that. We have to look at the region, which has a tourist vocation that we cannot underestimate. We have Guarujá, São Vicente and Praia Grande, for example, even for ships", he says.

Lima believes that something needs to be designed for the cities that the Port is a part of. "It's a reversal of logic, without controversy. Of course, the Port is important, who else has this port in the world?", he argues. "I think that this (harmony between cities and docks, without one being more important than the other) will give Baixada Santista what we are expecting. Today, it represents 3% of the Gross Domestic Product of the State. It has the potential to be 6%, 7%".

Oil and gas

The secretary also emphasized that the oil and gas industry must be treated as strategic, a thought he guarantees is from governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans).

"We have a port, basins nearby, the best logistics in the surroundings, two roads and a third lane (Imigrantes) that will be completed over time. Santos is right next to São Paulo, we reach the airport (Guarulhos) in 1h40 via the Rodoanel and there's total sustainability in logistics infrastructure. In addition, 53% of the industries supplying this segment are in São Paulo. And it seems that it only exists in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro. It's crazy", he says.

Infrastructure

Lima also made it clear that for everything to become a reality it depends on constant actions focused on infrastructure.

"If we had thought about the third lane of Imigrantes five years ago, maybe we wouldn't be in the trouble we are in today. Because, for a highway like this, it takes ten years, three for the project and seven for construction. I've been a CEO of a construction company, I know what I'm talking about. With optimism, it will happen in about seven or eight years". The forecast announced by the State for completion is six to seven years.

The secretary recalls that Brazil, in general, tends to focus more on short-term infrastructure projects due to political reasons. "No one wants to do it because someone says it won't be inaugurated. If you look around the world, there's no developed country that doesn't have infrastructure. For us to make significant changes here in the region we'll need it. There's no other way".