Brasília - A consultant at both the Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) and the Civil Construction Trade Association of São Paulo (Sinduscon), Ana Castelo, reports that the results of the Annual Survey of the Construction Industry (PAIC) 2002, just released by the government statistical bureau (IBGE), has confirmed what everybody already knew: 2002 was not a good year.

Castelo says the heavy construction sector shrank in 2002, mainly due to smaller investments by the government. The survey presents a detailed portrait that shows the drop in government spending, including spending on infrastructure.

Castelo warns that the country is headed for an "infrastructure blackout." "The numbers clearly show this. Infrastructure investments are urgent if the country is to achieve sustainable growth," she says.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Benedito Mendonça
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/30/2004