providing investment opportunities in several indus-
tries, especially the manufacturing sector, including
the paint industry, which has a very significant
growth potential. Not only the Northeast, but Brazil
as a whole is bursting with investments that strongly
impact building and construction and other indus-
tries. However, the region is yet to overcome major
challenges to a full development, such as making
investment in education and health care and expan-
ding the credit available to the region, and a lot of
capital is still needed before investing.”
Then Forcolor’s business manager and SindQuímica’s
president Ailton Rino Grando gave the second official
letter on the theme “Northeastern Paint Market: The
Industry’s Development over the Past Few Years.”
“The Northeast region’s time has come, as I witnes-
sed sporadic growth for 20 to 30 years, whereas now
we know that a solid infrastructure has been built
and, according to date from the FIECE (Portuguese
acronym for Industries Federation of the State of
Ceará), the region will receive more than 300 billion
reals worth of investment over the next 10 years.
We will experience substantial development, and it
is in fact undeniable that industrial businesses from
other regions have been coming and investing here.
We are now considered a major industrial center. The
region’s only deficiency lies in its social policies, such
as those for education and employment, but we are
rich in natural resources, such as oil, gas, gold, ores
and others.” Grando adds that the region’s paint con-
sumption currently amounts to 190 million liters per
year and tends to double over the next few years.
The two lecturers emphasized the expected invest-
ments in several industries in the Northeast, such as
iron and steel, petrochemical, chemicals, footwear,
mining, textiles, furniture, energy, travelling, tele-
communications and information technology, which
will trigger other investments, thereby causing a
definitive change in the State’s economic profile.
On the second day (March 25), professor Lauro,
Chaves Neto closed the Forum with a lecture enti-
tled “Paint Market – Main Development Drivers.”
“Brazil is one of the top-five markets for the paint
industry worldwide. The construction and auto-
motive industries have been the primary leverages
sustaining this market. However, if the industry is
to keep developing, it needs to invest even more in
new products, technologies, innovation, training for
workers, etc. In addition, such development can only
exist if underpinned by a tripod consisting of social
responsibility, sustainability, and respect for the
environment. Other very important factors to faci-
litate growth in the paint market are eco-designing
and eco-products, which means always fostering
innovation in an environmentally friendly way,”
says Chaves Neto.