The Ministry of Economy stated that Pronampe, the federal government’s programme to guarantee credit for micro and small businesses, has already released more than R$3 billion ($566 mm) in the last three days. The initiative, which is aimed at small and medium-sized companies , provides for the government’s guarantee of part of the loans made by banks to these businesses, in a lower proportion than in Pronampe.
In June, the volume invested in Brazilian startups was $156 million. The amount is 333% higher than in May this year, when $36 million were invested. During the first half of the year, the companies received $669 million in a total of 167 rounds of investment. In relation to the same period in 2019, there was a 51% drop compared to the $1.3 billion invested last year.
Solarian Energy completes the first phase of the expansion of its solar project, which has raised the installed power to 1.4 MWp. By the end of the three phases, the Rio das Flores complex will have consumed investments of R$20 million ($3.8 mm) and will total power of 5.6 MWp. Besides generating cheap energy, 601 tons of CO2 will no longer be thrown into the atmosphere annually, equivalent to the consumption of a forest with 27,300 trees.
Leaders of 38 major Brazilian companies have delivered a ‘manifesto’ to Vice-President, Hamilton Mourão, stating their concern about the lack of swift action on the part of the Brazilian government in relation to the deforestation of the Amazon Forest. The leaders declare themselves concerned about the negative reactions of Brazilian investors, and reaffirm their commitment to sustainable development.
It is projected that for the cachaça sector in Brazil a drop of 21.7% in total volume, including sales in supermarkets, bars and restaurants, due to the coronavirus. Before the crisis, the sector predicted a 1.5% expansion. The cachaça has a 7% share of the Brazilian alcoholic beverage market in volume, while beer, ranked first, holds 87%. Cachaça represents more than 72% of the distillate market.
BNDES approved an investment of R$ 300 million ($ 56 mm) in the Alaof V Brasil equity fund, focused on medium-sized companies. BNDES informed that it will contribute a maximum of 25% of the total that the fund can raise. The amount raised by the fund may reach a maximum of R$ 1.2 billion ($ 227 mm).
Brazilian exports of beef (fresh and processed) grew 9% in the first half of 2020, at 909,725 tons, compared to the same period in 2019, reported the Abrafrigo. In revenues, there was a jump of 26% to $ 3.9 billion. In June, Brazil sold 172,361 tons, an increase of 28% compared to the same month in 2019 and a record amount for the period.
Anfavea released a new production projection this year. The entity now estimates 1.630 million vehicles. This represents a drop of 45% compared to 2019. The entity started the year expecting growth of 7.3%. Anfavea has also revised its export expectation. The entity expects the sector to export 200 thousand vehicles, which represents a decrease of 53% compared to last year. January’s projection was for a reduction of 11%.
The small solar power generation systems reached 3 GW of installed capacity in the country, enough to supply 1.2 million homes, according to Absolar. This type of generation has tripled in Brazil in the last 12 months, and has grown 45% in the last six, despite the pandemic. Overall, Brazilians have invested more than R$ 15 billion ($ 2.8 bn) in solar energy.
The global renewable energy sector could reach the 29.5 million jobs worldwide by 2030. The Brazilian solar sector has already generated over 165,000 jobs since 2012. With 5.7 GW of total operational power, the sector brought more than R$ 30 billion ($ 5.6 bn) in new private investments to Brazil. In the first five months of 2020, the sector created more than 37,000 jobs in the country, even with the drop in economic activity due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
