The Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcísio Freitas, said on the 25th that he is betting on the success of the public airport concession program to the private sector. For the minister, the project of transferring the 43 terminals today managed by the Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Company (Infraero) to the private sector will not be affected by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As surprising as it may seem, I say that we are going to rule the sale of airports,” said Freitas during a virtual seminar with investors from Banco Santander.
“[There will be those who say]“ What do you mean? The airline market has stopped and are you going to sell airports? ”. And I answer, let’s go. And we’re going to sell a lot. We will sell a lot. We will sell the 43 airports. For a simple reason, daring ”, said the minister, emphasizing that the Brazilian offer will attract foreign investors in search of good business opportunities.
“Everyone is taking airports out of the square and we are going to put them on. We will be practically exclusive sellers in the world. Our assets are excellent and the sector will resume [activities], ”said Freitas, adding that” in addition to attractive opportunities not only at airports but throughout the national infrastructure, Brazil has been creating the conditions to offer greater security to business “.
“Of course, [the airline industry] is the most affected by the crisis and is the most vulnerable to a behavioral issue, but both we [the government] and the airline companies are going to come with the protocols, the security procedures and then, little by little, the movement will resume ”, bet Freitas, guaranteeing that the government will extinguish the obligation that 15% of the capital of the economic group that takes over an airport belongs to an airport company.
“We are going to lift the restriction, allowing anyone to operate an airport with the support of an airport operator. This makes room for investment funds, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds. What is already having a good impact on the market ”, said the minister, confirming the completion of the sixth round of concession for the first quarter of 2021, probably for the 21st of March.
OFFERS
The forecast is to offer, in the sixth round, 22 airports grouped in three regional blocks with the South Block configurations: Curitiba airports; Foz do Iguaçu (PR); Londrina (PR); Bacacheri (PR); Navegantes (SC); Joinville (SC); Pelotas (RS); Uruguaiana (RS) and Bagé / RS. Central Block: airports in Goiânia; Palmas (TO); Teresina (PI); Petrolina (PE); São Luís (MA) and Imperatriz (MA). Northern Block: Manaus airports; Tabatinga (AM); Tefé (AM); Rio Branco and Cruzeiro do Sul (AC); Porto Velho and Boa Vista.
According to the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac), before the crisis caused by the pandemic, these terminals accounted for the movement of 11% of air transport users. In 2019, there were 23.9 million arrivals and departures.
“And in the sequence, we come with the airports of the seventh round, such as Congonhas (in SP) and Santos Dumont (in Rio de Janeiro). Who will stop doing business in Congonhas or Santos Dumont? On the Presidente Dutra Highway? In the Port of Santos? So, we have a portfolio, excellent articles and sophistication in the structuring [of contracts], due to the way we are treating risk, in an increasingly balanced way “, added the minister, citing other sectors besides the airport to reinforce the reasons for his optimism.
“We are very confident. And that confidence is not unreasonable. It comes from the conversations we have had with investors. We know that we are on the right track and we will begin to realize this with the first successful auctions. reach our goal of R $ 239 billion “, said Freitas, guaranteeing that there will be no shortage of credit lines.
“It should be noted that there will be no shortage of credit for the infrastructure. The BNDES [National Bank for Economic and Social Development] initiative to act on the issue of guarantees, at a time when the bank is providing credit lines for the various sectors reached, preserves part of the capital for these infrastructure projects “.
