Anuario Brasileiro do Cobre | Brazilian Copper Yearbook 2018

Anuário Brasileiro do Cobre Brazilian Copper Yearbook 2018 23 SINDICEL: scenarios and perspectives T wo years ago, the Brazilian industry was hit by a strong economic crisis. The unbalance between generation and the distribution of the wealth could have been one of the reasons why the country is in the present situation. The copper sector was also affected by the changes caused by the Brazilian crisis. The president of the Industry of Electric Wires, Non Ferrous Metal Stretching of the São Paulo State – the Sindicel, Carlos Alberto Cordeiro (Caio), describes the current outlook of the copper industries and makes a balance of the sector for 2018. He also presents his vision on the Brazilian industry and his political expectations with the change in government.  What are the perspectives for the electric wires sector in the post elections scenario? I understand that, despite the uncertainties about the political destiny of the country, the new president will face the challenge to activate the economy through infrastructure investment. For example, if there is no money here in Brazil, may it come from abroad? The civil construction industry, that is so important in jobs’ generation, is stagnant since 2013. This is an obstacle that needs to be solved.  What is your analysis for the last year and what were the advances and the difficulties of the sector? In the last eight months, the sector was “walking like a crab”. This was good because it didn’t continue to fall as in 2017. However, if compared to 2013 or 2014, we are far away from that situation. I can say that, as with many other sectors, there was no change. The GDP can explain this: our expectation was to have 3%, but it´s just around 1.6%. A country with the 8th economy of the world can’t perform with a 1% GDP, and even if it was 3%, it would also be bad. Until January and February of 2018, there was hope for an improvement, but when all the political questions started to come out, uncertainties came together. I believe that, at this time of succession, of a new government, we should be careful.  What the entrepreneur can wait for 2019? The entrepreneur must not wait! He has to act, participate and request. The new government will have to solve the public accounts’ problem, mainly the fiscal deficit from the welfare system. This he, or anyone else, won’t be able to do alone, without public support. He will have the task of balancing the accounts that became unbalanced during eight years, mainly in the last two or three years. The Congress must approve reforms, of the welfare and the fiscal one, among others, and that it will require hard work.  How do you evaluate the industry role in this context? Interview with Carlos Alberto Cordeiro , president of Sindicel