During a meeting at the Beijing headquarters of the CCCC – China Communications Construction Company, a shareholder of the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge Concessionaire, progress was made in the negotiations to ensure the project’s feasibility. Governor Jerônimo Rodrigues and Sun Liqiang, the Vice President of CCCC, engaged in discussions about the project’s technical and financial aspects this Tuesday (4th). Chinese executives, along with the State Secretaries of Economic Development, Angelo Almeida, and Science and Technology, André Joazeiro, were also present. Manoel Vitório, the State Secretary of Finance, and Cláudio Villas Boas, the president of the concessionaire, also participated in the event remotely.

The meeting discussed the increase in the price of construction materials and the cost of financing due to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. “This is a continuation of the work I’ve been doing since the transition period and after assuming office. We’ve attended several CCCC meetings in São Paulo and Brasília to adapt to the current situation, which is a reality beyond anyone’s control, but one we must surmount. Given the pandemic and inflation, they argue that a rebalancing of prices and fundraising is necessary to finance the bridge.” explained Jerônimo.

The Governor pointed out that significant progress has already been made. Just last week, Banco do Nordeste allocated R$ 3 billion to fund a portion of the project. Alongside this, the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and a Chinese bank are in the advanced stages of discussions to contribute to the project’s financing.

Also at this meeting on Tuesday, the governor was present for a showcase of the CCCC’s technical prowess. The CCCC, having constructed seven out of the world’s ten largest bridges, boasts advanced construction technology. “The meeting was fruitful, with discussions revolving around technical and financial facets. This marks another milestone, and we anticipate positive developments in the upcoming months as a result of these meetings in China,” Jerônimo stated.

On Tuesday evening (4th), according to Brazilian time, the governor and the delegation from Bahia departed Beijing for Xian, another significant economic hub in China. There, they attended a meeting with CR20, the shareholder owning the remaining 50% of the Salvador-Itaparica Bridge Concessionaire.

As reported by the Government of Bahia, Department of Communication.