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RIO DE JANEIRO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Brazil on Thursday privatized two Amazonian ports to raise some 22 million U.S. dollars.
It is part of President Michel Temer's Investment Partnerships Program (PPI), which aims to revive the national infrastructure sector through a series of tenders and privatizations.
Private-sector companies won the concessions to operate the two ports in Santarem, in northern Para state.
"The (bid's) outcome shows confidence the private sector has in the government," said Mauricio Qunitella, the minister of transport, ports and civil aviation, in a statement. "This partnership with the sector is essential for the development of the country."
Temer announced his PPI plan in September 2016 to restore an attractive business environment as Brazil struggles to emerge from its worst-ever recession.
Latest data showed a surprise acceleration in Brazil's deep economic downturn in the final quarter of 2016, stepping up pressure on President Temer to do more to promote growth.
Earlier this month, Temer launched an infrastructure concessions program. He said it would raise 45 billion reais (14.43 billion U.S. dollars) in investment in building infrastructure.
