Infrastructure Working Group

Why an Infrastructure Working Group?

Brazil's planned infrastructure investments for the next 10 years total over US$750 billion-the size of the stimulus passed in the U.S. in 2008-an opportunity that U.S. businesses should not ignore.  Petrobras alone is investing over US$220 billion dollars over that period, some $110bn of which is destined for oil exploration and production in the Pre-Salt formation, the largest oil discovery in the past 35 years save the Kashagan field in Kazakhstan.  Investments planned for Brazil's airports, ports, roads, railways (including high-speed), water & wastewater treatment, hotel and commercial real estate, natural gas, petrochemicals and renewable energy are also significant.  The hard deadlines of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, when the efficacy of the infrastructure program will be on display before the entire world, contribute to the urgency of completing this ambitious agenda.

In order to help U.S. business take advantage of this wave of much-needed infrastructure investment and contribute to its successful completion, the Council has formed an Infrastructure Working Group.  This group, comprising leading investment firms, service providers and goods manufacturers in diverse areas of infrastructure, meets quarterly to drive its agenda of activities, which fall into two categories-Business Development and Policy Advocacy:

Business Development

The Infrastructure Working Group works to bring high-level Brazilian officials in infrastructure at the federal, state and local levels to Washington, DC to inform U.S. companies about opportunities and discuss details of the projects face-to-face.  In the last 6 months, the Brazil Council has hosted Secretary of Finance Joaquim Levy and Secretary of Planning Sergio Ruy Barbosa of Rio de Janeiro; Superintendent of Mining and Commerce of Bahia Paulo Guimarães, Vice-Minister of Ports Augusto Martins and Chairman of the U.S. Caucus in the Brazilian House Maurício Rands.  Furthermore, the Working Group organizes business delegations to Brazil to investigate projects and build relationships with officials and partners on the ground.  The Working Group's first such delegation to Recife, Salvador and Rio de Janeiro will take place on July 8-15, 2010.  The agenda and background for the delegation can be found on the delegation event page.

Policy Advocacy

In conjunction with the Council's partner the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry (CNI), the companies of the Infrastructure Working Group will develop a White Paper for Brazilian Infrastructure to provide suggestions for legal and regulatory changes that will make competing for and completing projects speedier and more efficient; reduce risk; and differentiate Brazil from other developing countries competing for private investment in infrastructure.  This white paper will serve as the foundation of a sustained advocacy effort with the Brazilian federal, state and municipal authorities, starting with the business delegation in July 2010 and engaging both the Workers Party (PT) coalition candidate and the Social Democrat (PSDB) candidate, as well as their economic advisors, in the lead-up to the presidential election in October and beyond.

How to Get Involved

For information about how to become a member of the Brazil-U.S. Business Council and participate in the Infrastructure Working Group's activities, please contact Chairman of the Infrastructure Working Group and Managing Director of Latin America at Altrius Group Reeve Wolford (rwolford@altriusgroup.com), or the Coordinator of the Brazil-U.S. Business Council Mariana Yazbek (myazbek@uschamber.com).