REJUVENATION UNDERWAY IN THE SPECTACULAR NORTHEAST
High levels of economic growth and stunning natural beauty are set to eliminate poverty and illiteracy and herald a bright future for its people

JARBAS VASCONCELOS Governor of the State of Pernambuco

Birthplace of President Lula, Brazil’s northeast region has traditionally been one of the country’s most underdeveloped areas, stricken by poverty and with high levels of illiteracy and infant mortality. Not surprisingly, development of the region is a government priority, and a combination of public support, private sector innovation, and vast natural potential has begun to rejuvenate this incredibly beautiful part of the world. The region is now registering the highest economic growth rate in the country, and prospects for continued expansion, stimulated by low labor costs and improvements in infrastructure, further enhance the economic outlook.

Brazil’s northeast region is comprised of nine states: Bahia, Paraiba, Alagoas, Sergipe, Rio Grande do Norte, Piaui, Ceará, Pernambuco, and Maranhão, with a total population of 45 million. Tourism will undoubtedly be the main motor of development in this naturally blessed region, as it enjoys year-round sunshine and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, dotted along its more than 2,000 miles of coastline. The undulating sand dunes of Rio Grande do Norte, World Heritage Sites in Maranhão and Pernambuco, and Mardi Gras in Bahia’s capital, Salvador, are just a few of its endless lures for tourists.

The traditional agricultural and livestock bases of the region’s economy are being increasingly supplemented by a new dynamism in industrial and hi-tech sectors. Ford Motors has opened a new plant in Bahia to produce 200,000 cars per year, and Pernambuco’s capital, Recife, is Brazil’s third largest ICT center. Infrastructure will be key to the future of the region as it is strategically located between Africa, Europe, and America, and is a natural choice for the logistics of any export and import activity in or out of Brazil. Port of Suape, located 25 miles south of Recife, represents one of the most important port industrial complexes in the Americas. Mr. Alexander Albuquerque, director of Port of Suape, says, “Our annual growth is over 30%, and the Port is a main point of reference for the northeast region in terms of transshipment.”