b'2American Journal of Transportation ajot.comBuilding back better in BrazilThe largest economy in Latin America is aiming toLATIN AMERICA TRADE build a transformative post-pandemic infrastructure withinvestmentsintechnologyandgreenenergy,BI-ANNUALrepresenting opportunities for U.S. companies.By Peter Buxbaum, AJOTOnOctober4,Brazils$276 billion. Infrastructure Minister Tarci- Economic growth is pro-sio de Freitas arrived in Newjected to rebound to 5.3% in YorkCityforaseriesof2021,aftera2020contrac-meetings,duringwhichhetion of 6.8%, according to the presentedsomeofBrazilsIMF,benefittingfromprice infrastructureportfoliotoincreasesforBrazilscom-potentialinvestors.Partofmoditiesexports.According theBraziliangovernmentsto the Deloitte report, upticks effort to build a transforma- in the prices of soybeans, iron tivepost-pandemicnationalore, and oil have likely aided infrastructureistoattractBrazils overall GDP growth.privatecapitalandprivatizeTheinfrastructurepoli-some infrastructure elements.ciesbeingpursuedbythe Justintheupcominggovernment of Brazil reflect month and a half, the govern- manyoftheprioritiespro-ment plans on auctioning off 13posedinarecenteconomic assets and raise over $5 billion.(BUILDINGcontinued on Bytheendofnextyear,thepage 4) As Brazils dams run dry, it needs more than green energy to thrivegovernment will have raised a projected$45billionthrough infrastructureauctions.Regu-latorychangesatthefederal andstatelevelsaredesignedWE KNOWtoattractprivatecapitalto enhance Brazils infrastructure, including the railroad, airport, and energy sectors.Thepicturethatemerges explains why the United StatesPEOPLEInternationalTradeAdminis-tration(ITA)describedinfra-structureasabestprospect industry sector for Brazil. Its alsowhytheU.S.Tradeand Development Agency recently announcedfundingforearly-stage developments in several ofBrazilsinfrastructuresec-tors,whichitbelieveswill blossom into projects that will benefit U.S. exporters. Therosypossibilities reflected in the ITAs assess-menthaveemergedonly recently.Infrastructureinvest-mentshadbeensufferingin Brazil since before the arrival of COVID-19. According to Statista, a provider of market data,investmentsinBra-zils infrastructure reached a decade-lowin2020of$23 billion, down from the 2014 highof$35billion.Pre-pandemic years did not fare muchbetter:2019saw$24 billion in investments.B razilsE conomyF arEsB EttErAccording to the Interna-tional Monetary Fund (IMF),Mexicomadeeasy.Brazilseconomyhasfared betterthanothersinLatin Americaduringthepan-demic,thankslargelytoa robustgovernmentresponse to the virus. In 2020, the gov-ernmentpromulgatedone of the biggest stimulus pack-agesinemergingmarkets, saidanIMFreport,nearly 4%ofGDPinemergency cash transfers alone in 2020. Accordingtoareportfrom Deloitte,thegovernments1000 Foust Rd., Brownsville, TX 78521(956) 831-45921-800-378-5395recoveryandinfrastructureportofbrownsville.comprograms will total as much as15%ofGDP,oraround'