Meeting approaches opportunities in the logistic and transportation sector of Rio Grande do Sul

The current scenario and future opportunities for logistic and transportation sector of Rio Grande do Sul were discussed in a meeting promoted by the international relationship committee and Mercosul integration of OAB/RS (Brazil Bar Association) last Thursday ,13th. 

Structural projects to improve logistics in the state of Rio Grande do Sul were also discussed, such as Duplica RS and the Hydrographic Basin, revisiting the proposals of the former governor Yeda Crusius, present at the event. 

By the time that Mrs. Yeda Cruisis was the State Governor, a study about the waterways potential in RS was developed, in a partnership between the State of Rio Grande do Sul and the Dutch government, supported by NBSO Porto Alegre.

The project was lead by Mr. Wim Ruijgh from Amports and Harrie de Leijer, from NEA – back that time – who is currently partner at STC-Nestra (Nestra is the acronym for “Netherlands Expert Group for Sustainable Transport and logistic). 

Yeda Crusius said that it is necessary to improve the logistic infrastructure, with the duplication of highways, and a better use of the waterway canals, mentioning the expertise of the Netherlands on the subject.

In the occasion the Deputy Representative of NBSO Porto Alegre, Lucila Almeida, made a remark about the relevance of retrieve the Master Plan project, that was concluded in 2010.

The document is a pragmatic tool that gives orientation related to that important modal for the decarbonization of the state, a mandatory action in order to achieve the desired results for the agenda 2030 and Paris Agreement. 

She also explained about the multiannual Green Ports Partnership, a collaborative project, coordinated by the Rotterdam Partners, which will be signed by Brazilian stakeholders on May 10th 2023, during the WHS, in Rotterdam.

The general overview of the state logistic status was discussed by the secretary of logistic and transportations of RS, Juvir Costella. According to him, the priorities of the government are investments on highways, airports and waterways. Costella highlighted that the waterways have been presenting good results. In 2022, for example, the cargo handling at the Port of Rio Grande was over 37 million tons especially soybeans which reached over 5.8 million tons. The secretary also mentioned about the importance of partnerships between the state government and municipalities with the private initiative, decentralizing its execution and leveraging the state’s finances. 

“I see the position of the Gaucho* government as assertive because the private initiative always does the best. It’s cheaper and faster than the public power (municipality, state and federal level)”, noted the president of the international relationship committee and Mercosul integration of OAB Rodrigo Prestes.

* adjective to describe people that were born in the state of Rio Grande do Sul