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Industries in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná are expanding investment in modernization of their industrial parks. A study published by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) shows that between January and October 2005 the volume of funds invested by the sector grew 25%.
Thus meant a growth of approximately US$ 315 million, against approximately US$ 253 million in the first ten months of last year. In the period, the productive sector in the state of Paraná (agriculture, extraction and transformation industry, services and trade) borrowed around US$ 1.1 billion, representing an increase of 10%. "Industries are investing in modernization, seeking greater productivity gain and cost reduction," evaluated the president of the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná, Rodrigo da Rocha Loures. Between January and October this year, the sector that most sought loans was the food and beverage sector, with US$ 82.2 million, against US$ 61.2 million registered in the same period in 2004 (an increase of 34%). Then came the equipment and machinery sector, which borrowed US$ 61.7 million, against US$ 21.4 million in the first ten months of the previous year (expansion of 188%). Operations among micro, small and medium companies also grew. Through the BNDES Card - a card that the bank supplies and that operates like a credit card, but at lower interest rates -, the state of Paraná registered over double the operations as were registered in 2004. A total of 1,779 cards were issued, and they had a turnover of US$ 20.6 million in 319 trade transactions. Last year, a total of 855 cards were issued, and they resulted in 102 transactions, for at total of US$ 7.3 million. In 2005 the industrial also expanded exports of capital goods, like machinery and equipment. Figures supplied by the Foreign Trade Secretariat (Secex), collected by the Fiep International Business Center, show that up to October machinery purchases rose 40%. In all, investment totaled US$ 229 million, against US$ 163 million in 2004. Omar Nasser works for the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná.
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