"New PAC could have R$ 70 billion for investments in major projects," says Rui Costa

247 – In an interview on TV 247, Rui Costa, revealed details about President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's plan to relaunch the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC). According to Costa, PAC 3 will have annual investments that could reach approximately R$ 70 billion, aiming to boost the country's economic growth.

During the interview, Rui Costa emphasized the importance of resuming the programs that marked President Lula's first two terms, also highlighting the improvement of macroeconomic indicators during that period. However, he stressed the need to reduce interest rates to further drive economic development.

One of the government's main concerns is the number of stalled projects, especially in the Minha Casa, Minha Vida (My House, My Life) program. The minister stated that over 4,000 infrastructure projects have already been resumed, and the government is working to reactivate other projects that were halted since Dilma Rousseff's presidency. "President Lula found 180,000 stalled projects in the Minha Casa, Minha Vida program. Some of them had started under Dilma's government. We have resumed over 4,000 stalled infrastructure projects," he said.

Additionally, Rui Costa announced the relaunch of the Luz para Todos (Light for All) and Água para Todos (Water for All) programs, which aim to provide electricity and clean water to underprivileged regions of the country. These initiatives will be integrated into the new PAC, which will also involve concessions and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to leverage investments.

The minister highlighted that the new PAC will have a special focus on sustainability, with the implementation of new transmission lines and investments in clean energy. This initiative aims to contribute to the country's sustainable development and strengthen the national energy sector.

National engineering – Rui Costa also addressed the government's concern about rehabilitating major Brazilian engineering companies that were affected by the repercussions of Operation Car Wash. The minister stated that it is necessary to recover these companies, even if it requires partnerships with foreign capital or international funds. "It is our concern to rehabilitate major Brazilian engineering companies. Operation Car Wash destroyed our companies. We need to rehabilitate them, even if associated with foreign capital or international funds," said Rui Costa.

During the interview, the minister praised the strength and determination of President Lula, highlighting his energy and resilience. Rui Costa also mentioned that the government's relationship with the National Congress is normalizing, which is crucial for the approval of important measures for the country.

Regarding the tax burden, Rui Costa stated that it is expected to decrease after the tax reform. According to the minister, Brazil currently has one of the most unfair tax systems, with the wealthiest individuals paying less than the poorest. Therefore, the reform will seek to correct this distortion and make the tax system more equitable.

Eletrobras – The energy sector was mentioned as strategic, and the minister highlighted the importance of the government having more voting power in Eletrobras. This measure aims to ensure national sovereignty in the management of the electricity sector and strengthen the state's role in this segment.

With the relaunch of the PAC and the planned investments, the Lula government seeks to boost economic growth and promote sustainable development in the country.