Cris Samorini (photo), from Findes and the Governor of the State, Renato Casagrande, together with other authorities and business and civil society leaders, launched last Thursday (26) the Espírito Santo Plan - Conscious Living, a set of actions involving public authorities and the productive sector to promote economic development and reduce the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The plan foresees R $ 32.9 billion in investments from the state and federal governments and the private sector, by the end of 2022. The estimate is that more than 100 thousand job vacancies are created.

The initiative is the result of a great pact that was sealed between the public authorities and the productive sector to face the challenges imposed by the pandemic, requiring that the actions be carried out from an interdisciplinary and multisectoral view with a focus on innovative responses.

In all, there will be seven lines of action: Reducing bureaucracy; Tax Measures; Credit and Financing; Monitoring Impacts on the Economy; Acceleration of Public and Private Investments; Innovation and Technology and Employment and Income Generation.

“We have reached nine months of management with this challenge and we need to learn to live with the pandemic. Our guideline has always been to debate with all sectors to mitigate the impacts on Espírito Santo society. To this end, we created this Plan, in which we expect to generate 100,000 jobs so that we can face this year of 2021, which will also live with the pandemic, as there is still no national immunization plan by the federal government ” , recalled the governor.

Findes President Cris Samorini recalled that a structured development plan is an old claim by the industry.

“We have been working together for many months. We have maintained a great dialogue with the government. The moment is favorable: the Industrial Entrepreneur Confidence Index has shown for four months in a row that the entrepreneur is optimistic. Even in the pandemic, we have seen the announcement of new investments. Garoto announced in September that it will invest R $ 200 million in the expansion and modernization of the Vila Velha unit, which will be Nestlé's global chocolate innovation center. Café Cacique is investing R$ 240 million in Linhares. Biancogrês is investing R$ 150 million in the Serra. We have the Port of Imetame and the resumption of Samarco. Now, we need investments in infrastructure, in BRs 262 and 101, and in railways ”, he observed.

From Findes, the vice president, Paulo Baraona, the general director of the Federation, Roberto Campos, and the chief economist and executive director of Ideies, Marcelo Saintive, also attended the event.

Centro-Oeste Corridor

Cris Samorini mentioned that, earlier this week, he participated in the Espírito Santo delegation, led by Governor Casagrande, who met with the heads of the state executive of Minas Gerais and Goiás to address issues directly related to infrastructure.

“We met with the governors of Minas and Goiás to consolidate the Centro-Leste Corridor, to attract cargo to the ports of Espírito Santo. With this plan, with the union between the productive sector and the state government, we are certain that we take a decisive step towards the resumption of the economy, towards a new cycle of prosperity, to generate new businesses, with jobs, income and well-being for the Espírito Santo society, ”said the president of Findes.

Partnership between government and the productive sector 

Casagrande reinforced the importance of the partnership between the State Government and the productive sector in several actions throughout the pandemic:

“We adopted several measures that had collaboration from the private sector to reduce social impact, such as the ES Solidário Program; we developed several jobs in the economic area, extending terms, reducing bureaucracy and creating credit lines. We opened more than 1500 ICU and infirmary beds, structuring our own hospitals, which proved to be a very correct decision, as we are in a new phase of the pandemic and our hospitals remain structured. Even in the pandemic, we try not to lose the pillars that left Espírito Santo in a prominent and credible position with a reference fiscal management. We are launching this Espírito Santo Plan - Conscious Living so that we can consciously live with the pandemic, face it and overcome it, ”said Casagrande.

During the launching ceremony of the Espírito Santo Plan - Conscious Living, decrees, protocols of intent were signed between the State Government and industry, in addition to the “Projeto Gerar” bill, which will mark the change of the energy matrix in Espírito Santo . The event featured a lecture by the finance specialist and commentator at Rádio CBN, Luiz Gustavo Medina.

Industry invests R$ 5.8 billion 

The plan's total investments are R $ 32.9 billion and the industry alone will invest R$ 5.8 billion. Cris Samorini mentioned several investments, among them:

- The return of Samarco. 

- Log-In announced in October that it will invest R $ 120 million in equipment, works and innovation, upon renewing the TVV contract. 

- Suzano is investing R $ 120 million in the Cachoeiro paper mill and R $ 900 million in the retrofit in Aracruz. 

- Chocolates Garoto is investing R $ 200 million in the Vila Velha unit, which will be Nestlé's world center for innovation in Chocolates. 

- Café Cacique is investing R $ 240 million in a new unit in Linhares 

- Biancogrês will invest R $ 150 million in the Serra. 

- WEG is investing R $ 148 million in the Linhares unit. 

- Britânia is investing R $ 394 million in a new factory also in Linhares.

The president of Findes pointed out that the oil and gas sector, which represents 20% of the state's industrial GDP, is another area that should boost the economic recovery.

Reate (Petrobras' onshore well reactivation program) should generate investments in the order of R$ 300 million per year in ES. Onshore production is expected to increase 5-fold, from 10,000 to 50,000 barrels per day for the next 10 years. In September, Karavan acquired 27 oil wells at the Pólo Cricaré, in the north of the state, an operation of R$ 640 million.

Lack of manpower 

A point of attention that Cris Samorini addressed, when talking about the recovery plan, is the risk of a lack of manpower. In Brazil, according to IBGE data, in 2019, 22% of young people between 15 and 29 years of age neither study nor work. In ES, this rate is 18%. In other words, practically one in five young people aged 15 to 29 does not study or work.

“We have been doing relevant work at Senai to qualify professionals for the market. This qualification is connected with the current needs of the industries and with the skills needed for the future of work. The offer of the courses is based on the employability of the students who finish their studies ”, said Cris.

She also mentioned the partnership with the state government, for the implementation of the new high school.

“The objective is to operate on the new high school model, with integrated high school and technical education, in 10 municipalities. The choice of municipalities was made by the state government, and the courses will be offered free of charge. The Sesi / Senai network is a pioneer in offering the new high school. The adoption of this new education will allow young people to opt for professional and technical training within the hours of regular high school. At the end of the three years, the student will be certified in high school and in the technical or vocational courses he has chosen. This offer is very important because it is a direct link between the student and the job market in the industry, ”said Cris.

Espirito Santo in Data 

Espírito Santo remains on track, said Governor Casagrande at the ceremony to launch the plan this Thursday, and stands out for having a Sovereign Fund, which contributes to attracting strategic investments for the State and generating jobs and income for the capixabas.

- Espírito Santo has been rated A for payment capacity (Capag) since 2012 by the National Treasury Secretariat; 

- It is the 5th most competitive state, according to the Competitiveness Ranking of the States = prepared by the Center for Public Leadership (CLP); 

- It is the state with the least waiting time for opening new companies in the Southeast Region, according to data from RedeSim; 

- It had the best evaluation of Secondary Education in the Public System of the Country in the Basic Education Development Index (Ideb) of the last 10 years; 

- It has tax incentives established by law and ratified by the National Council for Public Public Policy (Confaz), such as the Investment Incentive Program (Invest-ES) and the Economy Development and Protection Program (Compete-ES) that guarantee legal security to investors.