ATP and ABANI sign pact to improve Brazil waterway infrastructure and port access
Brazil’s private port terminals association ATP and inland navigation association ABANI have signed a technical cooperation agreement aimed at improving Brazil waterway infrastructure, inland navigability and access to privately authorized port terminals.
ATP President Murillo Barbosa and ABANI President José Rebelo signed the agreement in Brasília on Wednesday, August 19. The initiative is intended to support infrastructure development and the sustainable expansion of Brazil’s inland waterway sector.
The two associations said the agreement will contribute to the “development, modernization and improvement of waterway concession models in Brazil,” with a focus on increasing the competitiveness and efficiency of both the port and inland navigation sectors.
The agreement also calls for initiatives to improve training and professional development for waterway-sector workers, expand access to reliable technical, institutional and regulatory information, and strengthen recognition of inland water transport as a strategic mode for Brazil’s logistics network, environmental sustainability and economic development.
“Our agreement will also encourage, through concrete proposals and actions, the intermodal integration of transport systems, with the goal of increasing logistics efficiency and the country’s competitiveness, while always pursuing the best operational, environmental and governance practices in line with the highest national and international standards,” Barbosa said.
“We want to contribute to improving the institutional, regulatory and operational environment for inland water transport and Brazil’s logistics infrastructure,” he added.
According to ABANI President José Rebelo, the initiative will also seek to promote public policies, investment and regulatory measures related to navigational safety and improvements to conditions along Brazilian waterways.
“That includes issues related to dredging, channel marking, signaling and navigational safety,” he said.
Agreement to target concessions, dredging and intermodal logistics
To put the initiatives into practice, representatives from ATP and ABANI will prepare a work plan establishing targets, timetables and performance indicators.
The associations will share information, data, studies and technical expertise to develop research, public-policy proposals and institutional positions. They also plan to coordinate their engagement with Brazil’s executive and legislative branches.
ATP and ABANI will also work jointly with government agencies, authorities and other public and private stakeholders.
Other planned initiatives include collaboration on technical and institutional events, seminars, publications and related activities.
The agreement broadens industry coordination around Brazil waterway infrastructure at a time when improving navigability, port access and connections between inland waterways and other transport modes has become increasingly important to the competitiveness of the country’s freight network.