The actions carried out during the first six months of operation of Invest RS, the development agency of Rio Grande do Sul, were presented on the morning of this Wednesday (18/6), at a press conference at the institution’s headquarters. President Rafael Prikladnicki and the head of the Secretariat of Economic Development (Sedec), Ernani Polo, also announced the agency’s new initiatives and detailed the opening of the headquarters in São Paulo next Monday (23/6).
In this first half of the year, the main segments prospected were in areas such as the agricultural chain, energy transition products, regional niche products, tourism, petrochemical chain, fertilizers, agricultural machinery and forestry, and paper and pulp. Regarding the projects under management, there is a forecast of more than R$ 5 billion in investment and 4,466 jobs to be created.
There have been 482 contacts with organizations, entities, embassies and companies, and 36 investment fairs and seminars have been held. To date, 95 companies with projects have contacted the agency, there are 32 active projects and 10 projects with a term of engagement – a document that Invest RS signs with those interested in counting on the agency’s technical support in a partnership or investment project.
The president of Invest RS, Rafael Prikladnicki, reinforced the agency’s role in facilitating the process of attracting investments. “Since it began, Invest RS’s mission has been to bring the state ever closer to investors, wherever they are, with an intense agenda of promotion around the world, and also of getting closer to municipalities. We have to do this work with municipalities and investors, because attracting investments is a marriage between the two,” said Prikladnicki.
The Secretary of Economic Development, Ernani Polo, highlighted the importance of Invest RS and the State’s commitment to boosting the economic growth of Rio Grande do Sul. “The speed at which changes occur in the world also requires that the government prepare itself, create structures with agility and speed, that are connected to a development plan and with the entities that do important work, so that together we can promote greater attraction and attract investments to RS.”
The actions are aligned with the purposes of promoting sustainable development, reducing regional inequalities, improving the competitiveness of the Rio Grande do Sul economy, creating opportunities for the future, generating jobs and income, and fostering innovation and the new economy. These initiatives are guided by the Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development Plan, launched by the Rio Grande do Sul government and which is part of the Rio Grande do Sul Plan, with the prioritization of strategic sectors to boost growth.
In addition, Invest RS participated in 13 fairs and six international missions: Japan and China; India; United Arab Emirates; Sweden and Malaysia; United States; Estonia and Finland. The agency also participated in events such as Expodireto and South Summit to promote closer ties with companies. These actions aim to make RS known and publicize the agency’s work in attracting investment and promoting trade.
New institutional phase
Among the new initiatives, the main action is the launch of the office in São Paulo, which represents a strategic move to bring RS closer to the main economic center of Latin America. More than an operational base, the space will function as a connection hub to expand the agency’s institutional reach and the state’s competitiveness in the competition for investments on the national and international scene. New fairs and missions are also planned, as well as more actions to support municipalities, exporters and investors.
Invest RS is investing in improving data, market intelligence and relationships with strategic sectors. A data panel will soon be launched, with more than 5 gigabytes of data that result in a wide range of possibilities for consulting and cross-referencing information, in addition to exclusive mapping of municipal and state land available to investors in Rio Grande do Sul.
About Invest RS
Operating since December 2024, Invest RS was created by Law 16.076/2023 as an Autonomous Social Service to attract investments and commercially promote the State, in cooperation with the government and society. The operating model, aligned with Sedec and other agencies responsible for public development policies, combines agility in decision-making with flexibility in hiring and remuneration, in addition to providing security in financing.
