“It seems like they intentionally neglected the ferry system just to create enough discontent so that people would accept construction of this bridge,” says Maria José Pacheco executive secretary of the Bahia Fishermen’s Protection Council Passengers making the crossing between the Brazilian city of Salvador and the island of Itaparica in Todos os Santos Bay on the Atlantic have a litany of complaints about the ferry service: delays One of the previous operators was accused of overbilling and poor management; the current operator has already been hit with millions of reais in fines for similar problems The ferry crossing across the mouth of the bay takes about 50 minutes A proposed bridge would cut that time down to just 15 minutes the 12.4-kilometer (7.7-mile) span will be the second-longest bridge in the Southern Hemisphere after Rio de Janeiro’s 13.29-km (8.26-mi) Niterói bridge A consortium of two Chinese companies won the bid for the Salvador-Itaparica bridge in 2020 The public-private partnership has a price tag of 9 billion reais ($1.5 billion) The companies’ portfolios include similar grand public works projects including the world’s largest maritime bridge in the Sea of China The 35-year concession for the Salvador-Itaparica Island Highway Bridge System Heavy trucks are limited on the existing ferry service That makes the bridge project attractive to some sectors because it offers an alternative route for transporting agricultural produce from the fertile Recôncavo region around Salvador without having to drive around the entire bay But the environmental impact from increased truck traffic on the island between the landing point at Vera Cruz and its northern tip at Itaparica has raised concerns about this region where the natural landscape and rural lifestyles have largely been preserved “The bridge will be very invasive and bring no real benefits to the island,” says Tânia França an Itaparica resident and representative of the Cultural and Environmental Religious Association (ARCA) “It will only be progress for the state of Bahia because it will be a way to get production to the city of Salvador.” covering 1,233 square kilometers (476 square miles) Eighteen municipalities in the state of Bahia are dotted along its coastline mostly in the Salvador Metropolitan Area at the eastern edge of the bay Rich in both marine biodiversity and the wildlife of the coastal Atlantic Rainforest the bay sustains many traditional fishing communities who stand to be directly impacted by the bridge project “The environmental impact study is supposed to be used to approve the license because the study is incomplete,” Severino Agra a biology professor at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and co-founder of the Bahia Environmentalist Group (Gambá) with the Bahia state government yet to approve the definitive license before construction can actually begin a sensitive area of mangrove forest is slated to be cleared so that 8 km (5 mi) of the existing BA-001 highway can be widened and 22 km (13.7 mi) of new highway can be built These are meant to improve the flow of vehicles between the bridge even if this means destroying native vegetation Mangrove forests are essential for maintaining coastal ecosystems because they work as natural barriers against erosion The shallow water crowded with the dense vegetation and its interwoven roots serves as a nursery for a variety of marine species It’s in this transition zone between freshwater and the seawater that groups of women called marisqueiras gather food to sustain their families Collecting shellfish like oysters and mussels artisanal tradition that helps monitor and protect natural resources But the area used by the marisqueiras will be reduced because of the roadworks “The number of shellfish they will be able to collect will be brutally reduced,” Agra says “The concessionary’s own study admits that there will be a loss of vegetation in the mangroves.” driving the pillars for the bridge will produce underwater noise and vibrations that could affect numerous species of aquatic life resulting in changed behavior and even reduced numbers which are vital for balancing the local ecosystem while sea turtles lay their eggs on the beaches here The 139 pillars planned for the project could also pose a barrier to the passage of large mammals like humpback whales These animals are regaining lost territory in Brazilian waters migrating to the coastline here from June to November to reproduce and feed “Humpback whales were rarely seen in Todos os Santos Bay until five years ago despite all the problems with human activities like container ship traffic,” Enrico Marcovaldi a researcher with local NGO Projeto Baleia Jubarte (Humpback Whale Project) The project has maintained an observation center at Praia do Forte Its researchers have reported 1,008 sightings of humpback whales in the area during the 90-day observation season this year “This doesn’t mean that over 1,000 whales were seen because many were seen a number of times,” Marcovaldi says The bridge project’s current phase — which started in January 2024 and is expected to end in 2025 — is to carry out geotechnical surveying, which analyzes the soil, both on solid ground as well as on the seabed, using barges to drill 102 boreholes and collect core samples “This procedure will stir up sediment from below the ground which probably contains old contaminants like oil and heavy metal residual,” Agra says these contaminants will become suspended in the water again.” The work also places the survival of numerous communities that depend on the bay at risk like the 19th-century Afro-Brazilian fishing settlement at Alto do Tororó Quilombo in the Salvador suburb of São Tomé “Our concern has now turned to desperation because during the construction all the coral and reefs that provide food for the fish we capture will disappear,” says community leader J Construction of the bridge will be the final blow to artisanal fishing here.” One of the main objectives driving the bridge’s construction is to transform Itaparica Island into a housing option for Salvador with an official population of 2.6 million is Brazil’s fifth most populous city there’s expected to be a population surge on the island from the current 65,000 inhabitants to 220,000 by 2050 Those already living on the island today say they’re skeptical about the benefits citing concerns about the pressure on public services “What does this increase in population imply in terms of violence urban disorder and land ownership pressure that will be placed on traditional communities?” Pacheco says “There will more people needing public health and schooling services home to the island’s ferry terminal and where the new bridge will make landfall has an official population of some 45,000 people They’re served by 49 schools (only five of which are high schools) and a public sanitation system that reaches less than a quarter of the population at the island’s north and covering just 18% of its territory 26 schools (three high schools) and 10 public health clinics Nearly half of the homes are connected to the sewer system “The island will end up being just another suburb of Salvador,” Agra says the towns will need to be managed efficiently so much will already be out of control — public sanitation schools — that it will be nearly impossible to revert the disorder.” the real estate market is already heating up Residents have noted rising land and home prices as well as more land grabbing in open areas “If the island becomes more valuable as an urban area the first thing that is going to happen is the village where the fishermen live will be taken from them because they don’t have title to the land They’ll get sent outside town or even be forced off the island.” Another concern is the loss of green areas, like Sitio dos Milagres, a 47-hectare (116-acre) patch of Atlantic Rainforest that’s been preserved for decades through the work of Venceslau Monteiro an Itaparica resident who became a near-mythical figure in the community in the last century after his blindness was said to have been cured at a spring in the forest “Venceslau Monteiro was a great environmentalist in his time,” says Tânia França from ARCA the organization that manages Sitio dos Milagres (“Site of Miracles”) it became a place of pilgrimage and where rituals from the Afro-Brazilian cultures were carried out.” was transferred to the city as payment for debts the city promised to turn Sitio dos Milagres into an ecological park for religious use similar to São Bartolomeu Park in Salvador Local and traditional communities say the bridge project was drawn up without the necessary dialogue “No one heard from the fishermen and marisqueiras despite protests on the part of community groups against the environmental impacts and not only here on Itaparica Island,” says community leader Barros The project’s environmental impact statement dedicates 40 pages to mitigation and compensation plans “in environmental and social and economic terms in safekeeping of the interests of the local populations and the biophysical environment.” The descriptions of these actions are “The mitigation measures proposed by the concessionary consist merely of titles with no explanation whatsoever,” says Agra with no clarification as to how they will be implemented.” The Bahia state government has issued a notice saying the preliminary license included inquiries with the traditional communities on the island and that the company responsible had created a plan for land acquisition the concession holder for the Salvador-Itaparica Island Highway Bridge System said the basic project had been modified adding that “measures have already been taken to avoid any interferences in mangrove forests.” the best solution would be to invest in the existing ferry system “It would be better if there was a fixed schedule with crossings every 30 minutes that run past midnight,” França says they could buy more ferries that were larger That would minimize the environmental impact.” The concession passed through several companies before it was taken over by Internacional Travessias Salvador more than 15,000 people and 2,000 vehicles take the ferry every day (including vehicle passengers and walk-ons) The company operates seven ferries that can carry When asked about problems with the ferry service Internacional Travessias Salvador told Mongabay that long waiting lines only accumulate on three-day weekends and holidays when the number of people crossing can triple It also said it has invested in new cleaning and maintenance teams Improving the ferry service has been touted as a more economically viable alternative to building the bridge, but it wasn’t considered by planners. During the last bid for the purchase of ferries the price of a new boat was 30 million reais ($4.9 million) a fraction of the bridge’s 9 billion reais price tag “Not building the bridge is one of the alternatives,” Agra says “The law requires that the impact statement evaluate every alternative in detail so the impacts can be compared and the least aggressive option can be chosen This includes the option of not going through with the project.” Banner image: Researchers recorded 72 humpback whale sightings inside Todos os Santos Bay this year alone Image courtesy of Enrico Marcovaldi/Projeto Baleia Jubarte This story was first published here in Portuguese on Nov The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] Some are necessary and we can’t switch them off Others help us to provide you with the best possible service We use cookies to personalise content and ads to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic We also share anonymous information about your use of our site with our social media By accepting cookies you will be helping us to continue to provide you with the best possible service Engineers have started test-drilling for the Salvador-Itaparica road bridge The bridge was agreed as a public-private partnership deal five years ago and is set to become Latin America’s second-longest which already has fixed links to the mainland on its side of the bay A consortium consisting of China Communications Construction Company and China Railway 20 Bureau Group has been selected to build the consortium was the only bidder for the project and the final contract was signed in November 2020 after the pandemic delayed the start of construction and caused an increase in cost by around $500m According to a report from the Bahia State government drilling on land will be completed by the end of February This will involve drilling from ships to collect seabed samples and will take the rest of the year Work on the bridge itself will commence at the beginning of next year The cable-stayed bridge will be accompanied by approximately 34km of highways they will provide “a new vector of income distribution” and could benefit 10 million Bahians in 250 municipalities The scheme will also boost tourism by reducing journey times to popular destinations Off Highway Research - Market research Unique marketing services that create demand for your products locally Marketing Services Download Media Kits the 2.4 km bridge will be built by a Chinese consortium The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) will start building a US$1.2 billion bridge in the Brazilian state of Bahia “soon”, according to Bahia’s governor, Jerónimo Rodrigues The bridge connecting the Bahian capital of Salvador to Itaparica Island will be the longest overwater bridge in Latin America – at 12.4 km The Brazilian government has estimated that some 7,000 jobs will be generated during its construction phase and around 100,000 more over the next 30 years – due to the bridge’s impact on commuting the commute between Salvador and Itaparica is either a 200 km car trip or an hour-long ferry ride with long wait times and frequent cancellations due to weather The completed bridge will reduce travel times to around 20 minutes a welcome improvement for the thousands who already make this commute daily [See more: Chinese companies invest heavily in Brazil] The idea of a bridge between Salvador and Itaparica has been discussed since the 1960s when a Chinese consortium won the contract to carry out the project and the CCCC South America Regional Company (CCCC South America) but Covid-19 delayed the start of construction – which was initially scheduled for 2021 Governor Rodrigues made his latest announcement last week – after meeting with Chinese ambassador to Brazil Zhu Qingqiao and Rui Costa who was chief of staff to the Brazilian president and the governor of Bahia when the bridge contract was initially signed Diálogo Américas a Chinese consortium consisting of three state-run companies signed a contract with Bahia state The venture established a partnership to build a 12.4-kilometer long bridge Construction is expected to begin in 2021 and last for five years The bridge will connect the city of Salvador Itaparica is already connected to the continent through a bridge that provides access to the state’s southern region The idea of building this new structure has been discussed since 1967 and is controversial: Part of the population consider it to be too costly and to have an environmental impact on a historical and touristic area of the Bay of All Saints The bidding process that enabled China to win this project The total investment for this construction work is nearly $1 billion of which Bahia will pay nearly $300 million while the rest will come from Chinese funds in addition to building the infrastructure the Bahia government will also pay $10 million to the Chinese consortium annually Bahia is the Brazilian state with the highest rates of extreme poverty: some 8 million people according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics There is concern that the vast financial commitment of this contract with China will prevent investments in sectors that are already in a precarious state The Bahia State Court of Auditors found a nearly $42 million surcharge in the construction budget Due to irregular findings and a potential loss for the public coffers the auditors requested in 2019 that the bidding process be suspended Another controversial aspect of the bridge project is its environmental impact According to a study conducted by companies hired by the Bahia government to identify and measure such risks the construction of the Salvador-Itaparica bridge will generate 167 environmental impacts on the sea as well as socioeconomic impacts on the territories the work covers There is concern about the unbridled population growth on Itaparica Island a bucolic region with untouched nature and some 60,000 low-income residents investments in physical and social infrastructure necessary for the area to withstand a sudden population growth have not been projected “The mere crossing of a road through a relatively preserved environment tends to create conditions for the growth of sub-human population concentrations and their degradation,” researchers Francisco Lima Cruz Teixeira and Sílvio Vanderlei Araújo Sousa said in an article about the bridge construction published in the Federal University of Bahia’s Center for Study and Research of Humanities social science magazine Local environmental groups also point out to the disappearance of a river caused by dredging and the alteration of coral reefs due to sound pollution and pressure from underwater equipment as well as the removal of local vegetation and mangroves considering that fishing is one of the main activities of local islanders For more on security and defense issues around the globe $1.3bn (£1bn) sea bridge in the Brazilian state of Bahia have taken a step forward with drilling work starting on land to examine ground conditions along the route Intended to create a valuable economic link between Itaparica island and the city of Salvador the new bridge will be the second longest bridge in South America The first ground examinations in Vera Cruz and Salvador have been seen as a significant step for the ambitious project that has backing at both local and national government levels Bahia Governor Jerônimo Rodrigues said "The survey is the first step in understanding the characteristics of the soil and defining the foundation of the bridge we are fully committed to making this dream come true Land drilling will be followed by drilling in the shallow waters of All Saints Bay in March before further tests and deep water drilling further from shore later in the year The project hopes to have this completed in 2024 so that construction work can begin in early 2025 appointed in 2021 as the project sought to get back underway after the pandemic "Today we took a big and important step that will expand the future prospects of Bahia With the support and fundamental work of the State Government we are advancing in this project that will boost the economy and will be a symbol of the progress in the diplomatic relations of Bahia and Brazil with China" China are a major partner in the project thanks to a public private partnership between Bahia and a consortium of two major Chinese firms - China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation (CR20) and China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) That agreement was signed by the previous Bahia governor Rui Costa who has since become chief of staff to the Brazilian president His agreement of a 35-year concession for the building and maintenance of the bridge was seen as a big step for the region’s economic future The project is expected to create seven thousands jobs and foster faster economic development through investment in logistics There is also expected to be a boost to the region’s tourism sector as the sea crossing will reduce driving distances to and from other tourist destinations in the southern lowlands by more than 100km Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. Tagged with: The construction of a nuclear plant on the moon is being considered… The government has been told it must “fix” its international nuclear strategy… Cop30 has denied recent felling of trees in the Amazon rainforest to… Chinese contractors are struggling to secure contracts in democratic countries in Xi… LOS ANGELES—Artist residencies are an important resource for artists to explore site-oriented practices and experience firsthand particular places and cultures Bahia Reverb: Artists and Place presents the work of ten contemporary artists: Sandra Brewster All from North America and of African descent they were fellows at the Sacatar Institute located on Itaparica Island across from Salvador capital of the state of Bahia in northeast Brazil Bahia was the first point of entry of enslaved Africans into the Americas and remains the center of Afro-Brazilian culture to this day the exhibition features artworks in a range of media initiated either before or after the artists’ residencies at Sacatar reflecting on how these experiences shaped their visions and impacted their practice as they engaged in myriad ways with the richness and cultural power of Bahia their time in Bahia represented an encounter with their Black ancestors and African roots Others found home and a feeling of belonging or an unknown or forgotten spiritual part of themselves Though the artists’ backgrounds and approaches vary many overlapping concepts and narratives reappear throughout the exhibition Collectively the artworks illustrate questions of Afro-Brazilian histories and respond to the legacies of African colonialism and diaspora At the same time they celebrate cultural traditions and the accomplishments of a common African lineage the artists play with notions of fact and fiction The exhibition represents the myriad forms of resistance a people will engage in under conditions of enslavement and repression Bahia Reverb: Artists and Place is organized by the California African American Museum (CAAM) and Art + Practice (A+P) Bahia Reverb is on display through the rest of Black History Month until March 2 Just to mention a few highlights that stood out on a recent visit Rik Freeman’s monumental oil painting A Liberdade de Maria Felipa is based on the local Bahian narrative of Maria Felipa de Oliveira an enslaved woman who in 1823 led a group of forty women in a revolt against the Portuguese Navy on Itaparica Island Freeman recalls this episode: “These women lured the sailors in using their feminine wiles and when the boys got a little hot ’n’ bothered…the women took out a cansanção bush which has a multitude of needles that break off into the skin then proceeded into the bay and set afire numerous ships.” The Portuguese were then forced to abandon the Island of Itaparica and return to Salvador Ga.-born artist has a profound fascination with the African diaspora in the Americas and his work incorporates shared histories between Afro-Brazilian and African-American peoples began a mixed media project in 2009 celebrating Warrior Women of the African Diaspora using hand-stitched garment materials and processes that incorporate both personal and universal narratives These are “war shirts” honoring the histories women made in such diverse places of the African diaspora as the Virgin Islands During her residency at the Sacatar Institute she made a war shirt to honor Maria Felipa de Oliveira Lovell liked to collaborate with local artisans which allowed her to familiarize herself with cloth makers and local textile traditions assemblage and patchwork among other techniques Others of her subjects include Harriet Tubman King Peggy of Ghana (the first living woman in Lovell’s series) the first African woman to be honored with the Nobel Peace Prize (2004) and the Negro Washerwoman of the United States This latter shirt “honors the Black washerwomen of the Jim Crow era who were able to elevate the status of their family and community through education An apron and three head scarves are repurposed into a cape to evoke a superheroine in celebration of these unsung women.” Karen Hampton’s three wall hangings are imposing a type of cloth woven from palm tree leaves and associated with African traditions uses brown pigment extracted from rocks that she found during a trip to the high desert in northern Nevada This area is home to the oldest recorded rock carving Hampton pays tribute to the Yoruba tradition where eguns are the spirits of one’s departed ancestors representing a link between the living and the dead Hampton found the West African cloth she used to make this series in Salvador’s central market her choice of material itself demonstrating the continuity of culture lineage and transformation from Africa to Bahia to the U.S a learned mystic of the colonial period little known until a revelatory biography of her by Luis Mott appeared in 1993; Xica da Silva a rare woman born enslaved who rose to the top ranks of society and was ultimately buried in a cemetery reserved for the white colonial elite; Iyá Nassô founder of an Afro-Brazilian candomblé temple following a slave revolt two years earlier Francisca appealed to the authorities and won the right to deportation She and her family and entourage returned to Ouidah where they established a new religious community Greenfield immortalizes the great beauty with blue eyes Escrava Anastacia forced to wear a muzzle across her face to prevent her from speaking who is remembered as a saint protecting enslaved people and the impoverished These are just some of the works on view in Bahia Reverb: Artists and Place A second gallery features videos and other work Cut paper and ceramic are among the materials used in other artists’ work and it’s right adjacent to Leimert Park in South L.A. considered the heart of the African-American community A+P is a private operating 501c3 foundation that supports the needs of transition-age foster youth and displaced children and families through its collaborations with First Place for Youth and PILAglobal A+P also provides Angelenos with access to museum-curated art exhibitions and diverse public programs organized by the California African American Museum Art + Practice is located at 3401 W. 43rd Place, Los Angeles 90008. The gallery can be visited Tues.-Sat. from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. A + P’s website can be found here People’s World is a voice for progressive change and socialism in the United States and for the labor and democratic movements to our readers across the country and around the world People’s World traces its lineage to the Daily Worker newspaper Vietnam, beacon of peace and freedom, marks 50 years of reunification Amidst capitalist crisis and war, Russian Communists struggle against Putin and... ‘The Last Play by Rickérby Hinds’: A Black Honduran immigrant tells... Amidst capitalist crisis and war, Russian Communists struggle against Putin and the oligarchs ‘Sinners’ review: Horror, history, and Black American folklore combine for trailblazing cinema  Chickens coming home to roost: Remember what Malcolm said More than 250,000 turn out nationwide on May Day Amanda Simpson: trailblazer for equality 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English I was diagnosed with testicular cancer and at one stage was so ill I woke in hospital to find the nurses crying A stem cell donor was found who rescued my health and followed this up with a life-changing note Stephen Clarke, as told to Wed 20 Nov 2024 07.55 CETShareIn February 2023 I booked a one-way flight to Salvador in Brazil to see the carnival celebrations physically fit after a long illness and with some savings set aside I had decided to spend 116 days travelling around South America It was the same amount of time I had previously spent in hospital On my first day in Salvador I was robbed at knifepoint: I swiftly realised I had a lot to learn about travelling alone I didn’t know much about where I was and had no plan for where I was going next but I wasn’t tempted to go home because I had already been through much worse I underwent a stem cell transplant at St Bartholomew’s hospital in London After being diagnosed with testicular cancer and undergoing chemotherapy my immune system wasn’t working well and I suffered several infections The doctors told me that a stem cell transplant was my best option for getting back to decent health so that I could keep fighting the cancer that had since spread to my chest and abdomen my weight dropped to 45kg (7st) and I was in constant It was now a case of urgently trying to find a stem cell donor with cells that were a close match to my own to attempt a second transplant (which can work where a patient’s own cells fail; unfortunately my mother and brother were not a match) The cancer was no longer an issue; it was my body’s immune system that would kill me I remember coming round and seeing all the ward nurses standing at my bedside crying They thought it was the last time they would see me and I wasn’t sure I had the strength to keep fighting The doctors told me I had two weeks to live Then the Anthony Nolan charity miraculously found me a match who quickly underwent the painful procedure to harvest their stem cells After spending more than two months in bed ‘It lit a fire in me’ … the letter Clarke received from his stem cell donor Photograph: Courtesy of Stephen ClarkeI emerged with a newfound respect for life and I realised I needed to make the most of whatever time I had left My mind raced with ideas to run marathons and see the world but first my body had to catch up: I could barely make it up the stairs to my first-floor flat I made contact with my stem cell donor to thank him and he replied with a note that told me to go and live my life since that would be the greatest thanks he could receive “It was my pleasure to donate,” he told me “Embrace the future and live every day to the fullest.” It lit a fire in me to rehabilitate and to get out into the world Life-affirming … Clarke at Humantay Lake in Peru Photograph: Courtesy of Stephen ClarkeBy 2023 I hiked up mountains and witnessed the most incredible wildlife in the Amazon I was hardly ever alone – I made friends with fellow travellers from around the world and was humbled by the generosity of local people when I stayed in their homes I met an Alaskan called Craig who runs a hostel in the shadow of the Cotopaxi mountain and he became my “ride or die” – meaning a person who is a kindred spirit shared life stories and will always be friends now I was on a night coach travelling through Argentina and I thought: I can’t go home yet There was too much left to see and the trip had become a life-affirming experience getting robbed three times and having one motorcycle accident I got lost on a hike in Colombia and almost died of dehydration The Steve that came back wasn’t the Steve who left Life is precious and I want to maximise it I sometimes feel guilty that I am alive while friends and even my mother have since passed away I’m currently preparing to return to Ecuador to visit Craig and to finally summit Mount Chimborazo I might not make it to the top but I can’t wait for the journey We encourage you to republish Dialogue Earth articles, online or in print, under the Creative Commons license. Please read our republishing guidelines to get started A ferry crosses between Salvador and Itaparica in Bahia state The China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has signed to build a road bridge between the two locations but the project appears to have stalled (Image: Panther Media / Alamy) When it arrived in Brazil in November 2016 with the purchase of Rio de Janeiro-based construction firm Concremat, the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) brought the promise of ambitious projects for the country The next few years saw the Chinese state-owned enterprise announce a series of suitably large-scale initiatives: a megaport in São Luís with the capacity to handle the export of 10 million tonnes of grain per year; alongside domestic mining and logistics giant Vale it would complete a railway in Pará state linking iron ore extraction sites in the Amazon to Brazil’s main ports; and in a public-private partnership with the government of Bahia state and the China Railway 20 Bureau Group (CR20) it would build the 12-kilometre Salvador-Itaparica bridge in what would be the largest construction project on water in Latin America and among many political leaders – was that CCCC would soon help catapult Brazil’s infrastructure agenda One of the world’s largest construction companies and a contractor for many notable projects along China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) CCCC had the resources and track record to make that goal a reality none of its major projects have left the drawing board Last year, CCCC announced its exit from the São Luís megaport. The sale of its stake in the project was concluded in February this year, transferred to Brazilian firm Cosan for 720 million reais (US$138 million) Its two other major projects have also seen little progress and CCCC – once held to be a major player in potential auctions – showed no interest in submitting proposals for a number of significant tenders held recently in the country especially at a time when Brazil is once again attracting the attention of international investors in a post-pandemic scenario in which investments have contracted we see a recovery process,” says Alessandra Ribeiro partner and director for macroeconomics and sector analysis at Tendências Consultoria in São Paulo seems isolated and goes against what we observe more generally.” It is not yet clear whether the CCCC’s move is merely a hesitation – common in the run-up to elections, such as those currently taking place in Brazil – or whether it represents a retreat and one that highlights not only the great challenges of investing in the Latin American country When it launched its Belt and Road in 2013, with ambitions to build major logistics corridors of railways, ports and airports that would boost trade relations and the transportation of goods around the world, China had accumulated years of double-digit growth. The country had a clear purpose and resources to finance its companies worldwide. Latin America, and Brazil in particular The country has also started to prioritise certain projects and regions turning its attention to large projects in Asia and Africa State-owned CCCC seems to be one such Chinese entity following this new route. In Latin America, only one project was highlighted in its most recent financial reports: the Mayan Train in Mexico Other factors that may be influencing CCCC’s change of tack in Brazil, such as labour legislation, a complex Brazilian tax structure and cultural challenges, as listed by the CCCC in a wide-ranging 2019 statement originally published by China’s Ministry of Commerce and republished by state media outlet Xinhua In June 2021, in one of its few statements to the press in Brazil, the then executive director of CCCC in the country, Helder Dantas, told financial newspaper Valor Econômico that it was difficult to explain the often excessive Brazilian bureaucracy to Chinese colleagues that it was difficult to obtain financing and that land issues were delaying the construction of the port in Maranhão Of all CCCC’s projects in the country, the port in Maranhão proved to be particularly challenging. Located near the state capital São Luís, in an area of forests and mangroves, the project was designed to occupy an area where the indigenous community of Cajueiro is located – a village with families engaged in fishing and extractive activities and whose roots in the area date back to the 19th century Tensions in the area are long-standing and predate the arrival of CCCC but as the consortium led by the company appeared reticent to engage with local demands “There was no respect for the community on the part of the companies that were involved,” says Haroldo Paiva de Brito a prosecutor on agrarian conflicts in the Maranhão State Public Ministry As for its Pará railway, CCCC encountered problems with the local population, with concerns raised over the risks of such a large-scale undertaking in a region of sensitive biodiversity, and passing through quilombola communities and indigenous villages So far there has been no clarification on the execution of the project The political landscape in Brazil may also have had a bearing on the CCCC’s current stance considering the often belligerent stance on Chinese investments of the current Jair Bolsonaro government Bolsonaro sought to cosy up the US – and the Trump administration – at a time when the trade war between the US and China was at its most heated it served to dent the image of good Brazilian diplomacy and impacted the relations Brazil has always maintained with the Asian country There have also been barbs traded: one of the cases with the greatest repercussions happened in March 2020, when federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of the president, blamed China for the coronavirus in a tweet. The message was retweeted by the then Chinese ambassador, Yang Wanming, with its embassy in Brazil issuing an official response the government’s stance has a minor impact But for large infrastructure works that require huge investment and approvals it is not possible to separate these things The president of the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce (CCIBC), Charles Tang, was one of those who went public to warn about the risks of this friction. He said that comments against China can generate more bureaucracy and put the brakes on projects. “Without accusations, there would be more closed deals,” he told UOL in May 2021 China remains Brazil’s largest trading partner. Chinese businesses are also among the main foreign investors in the country’s infrastructure and technology sectors But it is undeniable that relations have been affected by such episodes But when it comes to large infrastructure works that require huge volumes of investment it is not possible to separate these things,” said Pedro Brites professor at the School of International Relations at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro the posture taken by the current government is not only inconsistent with the pacifist history of Brazilian diplomacy but also places Brazil in a subordinate position on the international stage “It’s no wonder that there is a lot of expectation about the October elections There is a great demand from the G7 countries themselves for Brazil to return to being the important interlocutor it has been throughout the South American region,” Brites commented The track record of the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva the two candidates for the 30 October second round of presidential elections does not leave much room for surprises in the field of international politics Bolsonaro’s hostility to China is evident, while a prospective Lula government may be more open to dialogue and Chinese investments. Celso Amorim, a former foreign minister during the previous Lula government and today his main advisor on international affairs, recently told Diálogo Chino that if the former president is elected China will have an important place in his international policy “We will pick relations up where we left them in the Lula and Dilma governments and without naming the current government or Lula’s Workers’ Party the CCIBC’s Tang told Diálogo Chino that “the political lack of definition in the pre-election period ends up putting many projects on hold” especially if the government has the same ‘affection’ for China that China has always shown for Brazil,” Tang added China Communications Construction Company did not respond to interview requests for this story Yedan Li contributed additional reporting for this article Raquel Grisotto é uma jornalista brasileira com base em São Paulo É especializada na cobertura de negócios e sustentabilidade Select from our bespoke newsletters for news best suited to you We’ve sent you an email with a confirmation link 我们向您的邮箱发送了一封确认邮件，请点击邮件中的确认链接。如果您未收到该邮件，请查看垃圾邮件。 If you would like more information about the terms of our republication policy or permission to use content, please write to us: [email protected] We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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concession area will span 46.8 kilometers including a 12.4 kilometer-long sea-crossing bridge The main length will be a cable-stayed bridge whose key tower will rise 205 meters with a maximum span of 450 meters As the largest bridge invested by a Chinese company in Latin America under the public-private partnership the project entails a 30-year concession to operate and maintain it it would be the longest sea-crossing cable-stayed bridge in Latin America The PPP model involves a service or venture funded and operated through a partnership between a government and the private sector the technical solutions provided by Chinese companies will bring the Brazilian state unprecedented advanced technology The Chinese consortium bid for and won the project through Bahia's global tender The bridge will be designed and built under both Brazilian and US standards a subsidiary of State-owned China Railway Construction Corp Ltd to employment and to the quality of life of Brazil's northeast region," he said adding the bridge will offer a 25-minute alternative ride to the hour-long ferry that now connects Salvador to Itaparica The current land route is a bit of detour requiring travel across 200 km The bridge will directly benefit 45 cities and 4.4 million residents He said construction will present challenges rarely seen globally especially in building the deep-water foundation and the 30-centimeter thin-wall hollow pier for the shuttle-shaped main tower Itaparica's development had been stunted for a certain period the new bridge is expected to transform the island into a transportation center connecting northern and southern parts of Bahia It will also usher in new development opportunities in the fields of transportation tourism development and civil engineering construction Wang said the group would make use of different investment models including PPP to further compete with its established rivals in other parts of the world in particular the economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and BRICS countries BRICS is an acronym for five major emerging economies－Brazil China and South Africa－that represent about 42 percent of the global population 30 percent of world territory and 18 percent of global trade "Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic we are pleased to see the efforts of the BRICS countries in promoting investment cooperation policy transparency and efficiency," said Thun Lee the Netherlands-headquartered provider of administrative support services for international business expansion He said the BRICS strategy for economic partnership until 2025 will enhance the five countries' investment attractiveness to each other in the coming years The 2025 target is a key guideline for further enhancing business cooperation It was approved at the end of the 12th BRICS Summit this month Xi'an-headquartered CR20G is engaged in the design and construction of transportation infrastructure Apart from developing businesses in the home market CR20G has established overseas operations management centers in countries across the world－Angola It has also enriched its overseas experience in areas like foreign staff training China's new round of reform and opening-up policies and high-standard international trade platforms such as the China International Import Expo will build a comprehensive mechanism for Chinese companies to expand cooperation with global companies in areas from equipment procurement to production capacity cooperation in third-party markets vice-chairman of the Beijing-headquartered China Council for the Promotion of International Trade China added $14.1 billion in non-financial outbound direct investment in BRI countries The figure accounts for more than 16 percent of all ODI during the period according to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce Some 590 newly signed overseas projects had contract value exceeding $50 million each among which 331 have contract value above $100 million Some sectors have seen robust growth in terms of the contract value of their overseas projects The total value of newly signed contracts for general construction projects stood at $40.48 billion while the value of new contracts for electric power projects rose almost 11 percent to $39.24 billion At the opening ceremony of the China-Middle East and North Africa (Morocco) International Trade Digital Expo via video link held in Beijing earlier this month Ke said the country's strong commitment to opening-up and vast domestic demand will bring more growth and cooperation opportunities to global businesses including Chinese companies as well as those in the Middle East and North Africa The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade will continue to leverage its unique advantages in linking up with the governments and companies and communicating with internal and external parties as well as working with all parties to create a better platform for Chinese companies to carry out trade and investment activities in various global markets To prevent infection risks from the COVID-19 pandemic the Chinese government and business associations have urged companies operating overseas such as CR20G to prepare enough protective materials and make emergency plans as well as maintain close communication with host countries according to information released by the Beijing-based China International Contractors Association We're sorry but the page you're looking for is not on our website Design sketch of the Salvador Bridge Photo: Courtesy of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Co  A joint venture of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Co and China Communications Construction Co signed a contract to build a cross-sea cable-stayed bridge in Salvador with the Brazilian state of Bahia on Thursday meaning the construction of the largest such bridge in Latin America will kick off. Located in Salvador the Salvador Bridge is designed to be 46.8 kilometers long.One of the highlights of the bridge will be the 12.4-kilometer cross-sea section with the main tower topping up at 205 meters and a maximum span of 450 meters. The depth of water in the area reaches 60 meters.   The construction difficulties involved in this project are highly unusual the requirement for the construction of the thin-walled hollow pier China Railway 20th Bureau Group Co told the Global Times on Thursday.  Bahia Governor Rui Costa said that the construction of the Salvador Bridge project has been a long-cherished wish of the local people the Chinese company said in a statement. The bridge will facilitate the reconfiguration of the layouts of the Gulf of Bahia and the state of Bahia and benefit 45 cities and 4.4 million people Costa noted. As an important passage connecting Salvador and Itaparica the Salvador Bridge will shorten the travel time between the two places from two hours to only 25 minutes.  Contract signing ceremony between the joint venture of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Co and China Communications Construction Co and the Brazilian state of Bahia on Thursday Photo: Courtesy of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Co which has suffered from development restrictions for a long time will not only become a transportation center connecting the north and south parts of Bahia it will also experience new development opportunities in the fields of transport and civil engineering construction.The project is the largest investment in a bridge by Chinese firms in South America under the public-private partnership mode so far the company noted. The contract was signed on site and via a virtual conference amid the pandemic with the participation of Chinese Ambassador to Brazil Yang Wanming deputy chairman of China Railway Construction Corp (the parent company of China Railway 20th Bureau Group Co) Wang Wenzhong The governor of the Brazilian state of Bahia has signed an agreement for construction of a 12.4km bridge to the island of Itaparica Rui Costa signed the deal for the Salvador to Itaparica bridge while on a trade mission to China Chinese company CREC will now produce an action plan and schedule for the project which Costa said is essential for the people of Bahia Sign up to get our twice-monthly email update 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region. 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The page you requested could not be found There could be an error in the URL you entered into your browser why not take a look at some of the other great sections on the Express website: If it’s still a mystery don’t hesitate to contact us here order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated Test-drilling has started for the Salvador-Itaparica road bridge which is taking shape in the Bahia state of Brazil they will provide ‘a new vector of income distribution’ and could benefit 10m Bahians in 250 municipalities the bridge was agreed as a public-private partnership deal five years ago and is set to become Latin America’s second-longest Its total construction cost is estimated to be US $1.8bn The consortium was the only bidder for the project after the pandemic delayed the start of construction and caused an increase in cost by around $500mn Work on the bridge itself will commence in early 2025 MEConstructionNews.com is the central website of leading construction magazines - Big Project Middle East Middle East Consultant and Truck & Fleet Middle East A one stop shop updated daily with industry news The project was unveiled by Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla Nominations are now open in categories across technology This project marks the Middle East’s inaugural Trump International Hotel & Tower and the.. The gala recognised excellence across 12 categories reflecting the key facets of the architectural.. the contract encompasses 148 luxury villas this project could also mean an economic boom for state Brazil – Bahia The bridge and connecting highways are projected to create new tourism prospects enhance thriving commercial trade corridors through the region This new stream of economic activity and the vital transportation connection between Salvador city Itaparica island is estimated to potentially contribute as much as 250 municipalities encompassing ~1 million Bahia residents The Salvador-Itaparica bridge construction project also symbolizes mounting infrastructure deficits in Brazil and global collaboration to realize such a mega task through FDI When construction is completed it would turn into a symbol of human spirit and economics rising up both at Bahia as well The short term of its success will undoubtedly be imposed upon the management abilities and skills cooperative governance to achieve prosperity inculcated in local communities Welcome to Construction Review a portal that serves the building and construction industry through our blog social media presence and print publication Contact us Guest Posting Take down policy A ferry carrying roughly 130 passengers capsized in Brazil's coastal state of Bahia on Thursday the country's second fatal maritime accident this week Local authorities said 21 others had been rescued by the navy after the ferry capsized on an early morning trip between Ilha de Itaparica and state capital Salvador since the location was not far from the coast and also not so deep," said Flávio Almeida "We are working hard on rescue efforts at the site," he said The governor of Bahia declared three days of mourning in response to the tragedy In a separate incident in the northern state of Pará on Tuesday according to a statement on the Pará state government's website on Thursday The statement said 23 people were rescued on Tuesday The boat that sank Tuesday was not legally authorised to transport passengers citing the Regulation and Control Agency for Public Services for the State of Pará.