Manaus Free Trade Zone faces scrutiny over P&D funding and industrial expansion

The debate over the use of research, development and innovation (P&D) funds in the Manaus Free Trade Zone resurfaced this week after statements by journalist Ronaldo Tiradentes and former deputy Massami Miki. They highlighted concerns about possible irregularities in the application of mandatory P&D investments by companies such as Samsung, which is required to spend roughly 500 million reais annually on innovation in the region. The controversy, linked to the Samsung‑Sidia case, has been under federal judicial investigation since 2022 but has not led to any final verdict.

During the same period, the Conselho de Desenvolvimento do Amazonas (CODAM) reviewed dozens of industrial projects slated to bring hundreds of millions of reais in private investment and thousands of jobs to Manaus. While the industrial expansion is praised for supporting the Amazon’s economic development, officials noted persistent regional inequalities. The incubator INPACTAS, attached to the Federal University of Amazonas in Benjamin Constant, showcased a portfolio of 24 startups that are already reaching hundreds of families in the tri‑border area with Brazil, Peru and Colombia.

Management of the Superintendência da Zona Franca de Manaus (Suframa) from 2023 to 2026 fell under Bosco Saraiva, appointed with the involvement of Senator Omar Aziz. Calls for greater transparency and a public hearing on P&D spending have intensified, reflecting broader demands for accountability in the zone’s fiscal and industrial policies.