BYD will produce batteries for electric buses in Manaus, after Codam approves R$1.2 billion projects

Photograph: Robertos Carlos / Codam

Chinese giant BYD was one of the highlights of the 307th Ordinary Meeting of the Amazonas Development Council (Codam), this Thursday (04/25). The company received the green light to produce batteries in the capital of Amazonas for use in electric buses. The investment is the result of Governor Wilson Lima’s efforts during an agenda in China, in January, to expand Asian investments in the Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM). Codam approved 38 projects with investments estimated at R$1.28 billion, expected to generate 1,069 jobs. Another 394 jobs will be relocated to the factories themselves.

The BYD project is one of 13 diversification projects that were approved this Thursday. The company will invest R$154 million to start a new production line for lithium phosphate batteries, taking advantage of 61 jobs already existing at the factory itself.

The ceremony took place in the Arivaldo Silveira Fontes auditorium of the National Industrial Learning Service (Senai), located in the Industrial District, south of Manaus, and was presided over by the head of the State Secretariat for Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation (Sedecti), Serafim Corrêa.

Photograph: Robertos Carlos / Codam

“At today’s Codam meeting, 38 new projects were approved, with an investment of more than 1 billion and 200 million and more than a thousand jobs. These are very positive numbers. I want to highlight, among these 38 projects, one that will revolutionize public transport in Brazil, which is BYD’s project to produce electric batteries for buses, with the capacity to produce 1,500 batteries every month. This will change the profile of public transport in Brazil in 70 months, making it cheaper, with lower costs and a reduction in fares for all Brazilian people. Therefore, this is a very important moment at this Codam meeting”, highlighted Corrêa.

21 projects from new companies interested in establishing themselves in the PIM were also approved, such as BioAmazonas, for the production of solid medicines for human use in tablets, with a planned investment of R$ 358.6 million and the creation of 54 new service stations. work, and the company KTM do Brasil, with an investment of R$97 million, foreseeing the creation of 106 new jobs for the production of motorcycles. In addition, four projects to update industrial plants of companies already installed in PIM were approved.

The vice-president of the Federation of Industries of the State of Amazonas (Fieam), Nelson Azevedo, congratulated the regularity of Codam meetings promoted by the Government of Amazonas and celebrated the approved projects.

Photograph: Robertos Carlos / Codam

“For us, these are new investments, generation of new jobs, in short, everything for us is very positive. So, we will always make this happen, despite all the difficulties, but we [Zona Franca]we continue to be a model and a project of recognition, mainly from investors”, highlighted Azevedo.

In partnership with the Institute for Conservation and Sustainable Development of the Amazon (Idesam), the event promoted an exhibition that brought together various actors in the bioeconomy in the Amazon, with the aim of creating connections and encouraging new financing for projects focused on the topic. More than 15 startups that are part of the Priority Bioeconomy Program (PPBio) and that strengthen Amazonian socio-biodiversity were present, such as Chocolate Warabu, Simbioze Amazônica, SmartFood, Café Apuí, among others.

One of the exhibitors and representative of Idesam, Louise Lauschner, stated that it was very important to present a little of Inatú Amazônia, a collective brand of Amazonian communities that includes more than a thousand extractivists.

Photograph: Robertos Carlos / Codam

“Being able to be here presenting these products to the people who are at this Codam meeting, who are very important people, where it can generate resources, can generate more investment for the company like Inatú Amazônia, is extremely important and relevant”, he stated.

The meeting was also attended by the head of the State Secretariat for Energy, Mining and Gas (Semig), Ronney Peixoto; the president of the National Environmental Commission of the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Confederation (CNA), Muni Loureço; president of the Amazon Association of Municipalities (AAM), Anderson Sousa; president of the Commerce Federation of the State of Amazonas (Fecomércio), Aderson Frota; Federal Revenue delegate in Manaus, Eduardo Badaró; in addition to representatives from the Amazonas State Department of Finance (Sefaz), Amazonas Commercial Association (ACA), State Department of the Environment (Sema), Manaus City Hall, Amazonas State Development Agency (Afeam), Center for Industry of the State of Amazonas (Cieam) and State Secretariat for Rural Production (Sepror).

Codam

Codam, according to Decree No. 14,168, of August 8, 1991, is a collegiate body linked to the State Governor’s office, with advisory functions to the head of the Executive Branch on matters related to economic and social development, as well as in the formulation of the State’s fiscal and extra-fiscal incentive policy.