PERNAMBUCO STATE IS A TOURIST PARADISE

The State capital, Recife, is transforming the region into an ICT center which offers good infrastructure and beautiful surroundings

The State of Pernambuco in Brazil’s northeast region is a literal feast for the eyes, a paradise lost, with exuberant green mountains that roll out to mile upon endless mile of unspoiled beaches. This is the unparalleled setting for new development initiatives on the part of the government and the site of a new economic dynamism from the public sector. State Governor, Mr. Jarbas Vasconcelos, comments, “The priority of my first term was to improve infrastructure. The airport needed modernizing, the Port of Suape required investment, and we improved the roads and the water supply. This has all been concluded now, and we are hoping to attract new investment to the area.”

The northeast region, where Pernambuco is located, has a population of 45 million people, and Pernambuco’s capital city, Recife, which has been called the "Venice of Brazil" for its numerous waterways and bridges, is at the center of this large consumer market. Mayor of Recife, Mr. João Paulo Lima e Silva, states, “Recife is situated in a central area for the whole northeast and already serves as a distribution center and hub for the region.” Named after the coral reefs that line its shores, Recife offers a modern infrastructure, while maintaining its rich architectural heritage, and is rising in status as a center for international conventions and conferences. Mr. Danilo Pedrosa, President of the Recife Convention and Visitors Bureau, elaborates, “Recife is a relatively undiscovered destination and that presents an opportunity for us. The city is well prepared to accommodate a large number of visitors and has an excellent infrastructure, not to mention the beauty of the surrounding areas.”

Pernambuco is also a center for research and study that exports skilled labor to the whole region, thus accounting for progress in modern service sectors such as IT, where it ranks third in the nation, and the health care sector, where it ranks second nationwide.

Recife’s Digital Port is a brilliant combination of the concepts of urban regeneration and high technology cluster that is transforming Pernambuco into a leader in the information technology and communications fields. Mr. Pier Carlo Sola, President of Digital Port, explains, “Digital Port was created in 2000 as an urban science park to help transform not only the economic profile of the state, but also that of the neighborhood where it was built. Today we have 66 companies here, employing over 1,000 professionals.”