Plano Brasil Maior: Truly Nationalist. Thank goodness!

In my last article I discussed the new challenges facing Brazil and its national industry, and I concluded by stating that the government was taking action. Well, the first steps are called the "Plano Brasil Maior" (Greater Brazil Plan).

Our country is unfairly paying the price for its economic success. Possessing a giant consumer market with high growth potential, the country has become an alternative for foreign companies that do not find the same opportunities in more traditional markets.

The problem is that, in this context, we run the real risk of seeing jobs and, consequently, the income of Brazilians migrate to these other countries. We would suffer a significant setback in what we have painstakingly achieved in recent years in terms of economic and social development if we did not act.

In the current Brazilian development model, the domestic market has become our main engine. It was a slow and planned process of rebuilding this model, which previously relied on foreign trade as its driving force.

I then ask: is it fair that we hand over the engine of our development to other countries? And the answer is a loud and firm NO! The domestic market is made up of Brazilians and national companies. The jobs and wealth generated here should remain in the country, benefiting us and our families.

Is this nationalism? You bet it is. And we shouldn't be ashamed of it. On the contrary, we should be proud of taking care of ourselves.

The United States has always protected its steel and petrochemical industries, understanding them to be strategic sectors for the country. It is inconceivable for Americans to become totally dependent on steel and fuel imports. The same is true for European countries and even in relation to non-industrial sectors such as agriculture and services. Defending domestic production is the rule, not the exception, in the developed world.

Trade liberalization and globalization are not inherently bad. However, they must occur under fairer conditions and with greater balance in the global economy. This is not what we see today, and it is probably not what we will see in the next 3 years. Current conditions are predatory and potentially dangerous. We must and will defend ourselves. The Plano Brasil Maior (Greater Brazil Plan) amplifies our defense.

The nationalism contained in the plan is progressive and modern. We are not defending archaic, outdated sectors that have no place in the current production system.

Suffice it to say that technological innovation and high-level professional training are two of the program's main focuses. These are two important challenges that dynamic emerging countries like Brazil have been facing and that limit their development. We need to innovate to compete. And compete to grow even more.

The commitment to innovation is so strong that the MCT, led by Minister Aloizio Mercadante, added the word to its name, becoming the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

The "Brasil Maior" program includes various measures to promote innovation, ranging from more favorable credit lines through FINEP and BNDES, to strengthening legislation and institutions that support innovation. The same applies to professional training, with new resources for training grants and support for government programs in this area, such as PRONATEC and Pró-Engenharia.

Another important aspect of the "Greater Brazil" program is the tax exemption for the export of manufactured goods, the production of capital goods, and sectors with a high generation of jobs.

Here we are solving a major problem that harms our industry, which is the cumulative incidence of taxes, such as PIS and COFINS, throughout the production chain. This "cascading" cumulative effect harms the sectors that add the most value to the economy, particularly affecting the export of manufactured goods. The plan, with measures such as REINTEGRA, cuts the problem at its root, immediately returning 3% of the exported value of manufactured goods.

Furthermore, sectors with high employment rates, such as clothing, footwear, furniture, and software, were targeted for payroll tax relief. This is an important measure, as these sectors suffer from unfair competition from countries that exploit social dumping. It's worth noting that this does not alter workers' social security rights, but rather reduces the cost of employing them in these companies.

The "Greater Brazil" program is broad and ambitious. But it is also realistic and focused. It includes more than R$ 80 billion in new credits and R$ 25 billion in tax breaks.

It's worth mentioning that the "Brasil Maior" program is not a closed package. Several programs are pilot projects and will be re-evaluated and improved, while others will be proposed. In this regard, President Dilma created the National Council for Industrial Development (CNDI), composed of leading figures from the productive sector, which will monitor its implementation.

Brazil needs to take care of itself and its people. We have reached a new level of development due to the continuous transformative action of the government and society. And a developed country is a country with a strong industry. Just as we cannot conceive of Brazilian development without social inclusion, we also cannot conceive of it with a weakened industry. The moment demands the clarity to recognize ourselves as nationalists. Nationalists in protecting our economy and the jobs of Brazilians.