In the first of a series of Infra Dig podcasts under the “LatAm Uncovered” banner, IJGlobal today posts an interview recorded last week at the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) PPP Americas conference in Panama.

IJGlobal editorial director Angus Leslie Melville sits down with Marcus Cavalcanti – special secretary for the investment partnerships programme for the federal government of Brazil – for a PPP-focused tell-all.

In a high-level interview (15 minutes, ably translated by IJ colleague Albert Negron), Cavalcanti lifts the veil on a range of infrastructure investments that are shortly coming to market in Brazil.

A must-listen for all infrastructure professionals with an interest in Latin America, Cavalcanti drills down into individual projects across transport, water and wastewater treatment (which has undergone some changes of late to open up the market to private and public investment), energy transition, smart cities, forestry PPPs… and so much more, including the role of BNDES.

Mr Cavalcanti lifts the lid on the $5 billion transport investment programme, including launch of the State Highway 381 PPP in Minas Gerais, linking the state capital Belo Horizonte and Valadares.

In the water sector, Mr Cavalcanti gives details on the process the government has gone through to deregulate the sector and improve its attractiveness to private investors while also hinting at solid waste projects.

As to energy transition, Mr Cavalcanti pointed to the launch of a programme of projects that will be launched (June to September) building on the 40% clean energy record it already has, with wind and solar projects designed to double existing capacity.

To hear more, tune into the podcast.