Trust Insight’s Participation in the National P3C Event: The Future of Infrastructure Investments in Brazil
Recently, Trust Insight had the opportunity to participate in the National P3C Event – PPPs and Concessions, one of the largest gatherings focused on infrastructure investment in Brazil. The event, which brought together major industry figures, served as a platform for strategic discussions on the challenges and opportunities Brazil faces in developing Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), concessions, and the investments needed to advance infrastructure.
Sustainable Regional Infrastructure: FDIRS in Action
One of the event’s main highlights was the presentation of the Sustainable Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (FDIRS), launched in December 2024. With R$ 1 billion in net equity, FDIRS is the first federal capital fund to be managed privately and at discretion. The initiative aims to promote sustainable development in priority regions such as Northern, Northeastern, and Central-Western Brazil, focusing on projects related to water supply, basic sanitation, transportation, and social infrastructure.
Notable speakers included Eduardo Tavares, National Secretary of Funds and Financial Instruments at the Ministry of Regional Development, and Luiz Campos, Government and Infrastructure Leader for LATAM at Ernst & Young. They discussed how the fund can enable sustainable projects with a strong social component.
A concrete example is the Jaíba irrigation project in Minas Gerais, which will benefit from FDIRS funding.
The fund’s agility and efficiency are ensured by exemption from the Public Procurement Law (Law No. 14.133/2021), allowing for faster implementation of critical projects. This model of government–private sector cooperation is crucial to addressing regional inequalities and promoting social growth in historically underserved areas.
Airport Infrastructure: The Viracopos and Galeão Cases
The airport panel, featuring leaders such as Eduardo Borges (Operations Director, INFRAWAY) and Tiago Sousa Pereira (Director, ANAC), addressed the challenges of concession and re-bidding processes for two of Brazil’s largest airports — Viracopos and Galeão.
The Galeão Airport case, in particular, was emblematic. After years of declining passenger numbers and a reassessment by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), a strategic repositioning brought new opportunities. With an 82% growth in passenger numbers in 2024, the panel emphasized how a long-term strategic vision combined with regulatory adjustments can reverse crisis scenarios.
Speakers agreed that the future of the airport sector depends on flexible governance models that can adapt to changing economic and social conditions.
Highways and Infrastructure: Balancing Sustainability and Profitability
The highway panel explored the challenges facing road concessionaires in Brazil — particularly rising interest rates, climate change, and economic shocks such as the pandemic. Led by Pedro Bruno (State Secretary of Infrastructure, Minas Gerais) and Larissa Wendling (Superintendent of Highway Projects, INFRA S.A.), the discussion highlighted how project profitability has been impacted by these external pressures.
The financial difficulties of concessionaires — such as those faced by Nova Rota do Oeste — and the impact of high interest rates remain critical issues for ensuring project viability.
Speakers stressed the importance of updating feasibility studies, strengthening financial rebalancing mechanisms, and resolving regulatory disputes swiftly. The evolution of regulation and stronger public-sector support were seen as essential for sustaining success in infrastructure projects.
Foreign Investments: Brazil as an Attractive Destination for Global Capital
Another key session focused on foreign investment in infrastructure, moderated by Tarcila Reis (FGV-SP) and featuring experts such as Ronei Glanzmann (CEO, MoveInfra) and Marcos Siqueira (Inter-American Development Bank – IDB).
Brazil has established itself as one of the world’s leading destinations for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), especially in airports, sanitation, and highways. Such investments are fundamental to sustaining Brazil’s growth.
However, the panel underscored ongoing challenges to ensuring long-term sustainability — notably the need for predictable financial structures, legal certainty, and a stable regulatory environment. Greater flexibility in concessions, adoption of expressions of interest, and improved governance were cited as key to attracting more international investors.
The Road Ahead: Infrastructure and Sustainable Development
In summary, Trust Insight’s participation in the National P3C Event reinforced the importance of a robust partnership model that combines public and private efforts, focusing on sustainability, efficient governance, and adaptability to economic and social shifts.
Brazil is on the right path but must continue refining its investment-attraction strategies, enhancing regulatory flexibility, and ensuring that infrastructure projects meet both economic and social development goals.
For those interested in the future of PPPs and concessions in Brazil, the event made it clear: the country has the potential to become one of the world’s top destinations for infrastructure investment, provided it continues to reform its regulatory framework and strengthen structured financial solutions.