Brazil's Lula announces R$140 billion boost for Nova Indústria Brazil

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used the 74th‑anniversary ceremony of the Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) in Rio de Janeiro to unveil a R$140 billion injection for the Nova Indústria Brasil (NIB) program. The funds comprise R$102.5 billion from BNDES and R$37.5 billion from Finep, bringing total resources available to more than R$750 billion for 2023‑2026. The programme targets sectors such as fertilizers, agricultural machinery, pharmaceutical inputs, bio‑pharma, sustainable mobility, artificial intelligence, audiovisual, critical minerals and dual‑use technologies.

The announcement also introduced the Invest Indústria Brasil portal to map industrial investment needs, disclosed the first results of the ProFloresta+ carbon‑credit auction with Petrobras, and confirmed a partnership with Petrobras to research critical minerals for the energy transition. Additional measures included a R$340 million loan to Tembici for electric‑bike acquisitions for platform‑delivery workers. A TV Brasil special titled “Especial Economia e Futuro – 74 anos do BNDES” aired the same week, featuring BNDES president Aloízio Mercadante and Embraer’s director‑president discussing the bank’s role in industrial modernization and climate challenges.

In a related speech on the Dutra highway project, Lula stressed that his government’s priority is low‑income citizens, workers and the middle class, stating “I did not run for president to do things for the rich; the rich do not need the government.”