Brasília (DF) – The Brazilian Army and the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) have signed contracts aimed at structuring and modeling two Ministry of Defense projects. These are the Brazilian Army Historical Museum and Copacabana Fort, in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), and the Zoo and Botanical Garden of the Jungle Warfare Instruction Center (CIGS), in Manaus (AM).
The projects qualify for the priority investment portfolio of the Federal Government’s Investment Partnership Program (PPI), according to Decree 11.898/24. The act was signed on Tuesday (9), in Brasilia (DF), by the Chief of Staff of the Army, Army General Richard Fernandez Nunes, and the Director of Planning and Institutional Relations at the BNDES, Nelson Barbosa.
The aim is to preserve and increase the efficiency of the services provided to the population, promoting culture, tourism and environmental awareness. The assets are the country’s historical heritage and are among the most visited Brazilian tourist attractions in their respective regions.
The BNDES is the driver of the partnership process with the private sector, from the study phase to proposing the concession alternatives to be adopted. From now on, the Bank has up to 36 months to present the Army with a diagnosis of each asset and also to draw up proposals that will allow the Force to make better decisions.
For Nelson Barbosa, National Defense involves other entities. “It’s a state activity, not just military, but also innovation and technology. The BNDES is a partner of the Armed Forces so that their strengthening works for security objectives and also for economic and technological development,” he said.
The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Secretary General of the MD, Cinara Wagner Fredo; the Director of the Department of Organization and Legislation of the MD, Erika Melissa Oliveira França Nassar; and the Head of Special Advisory of the Special Secretariat for the Partnership and Investment Program of the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic, Cleyton Miranda Barros, as well as other authorities from the portfolio, the Army and the BNDES.
Find out more about the projects:
Army Historical Museum / Copacabana Fort (MHEx/FC) – This is part of Brazil’s historical heritage and is currently the third most visited tourist attraction in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Through the studies to be developed, it is hoped that any private partner will be able to refurbish, finance, operate and conserve the MHEx/FC, in order to transform it into a modern, expanded, safe, accessible, sustainable, inclusive, contemplative, attractive and interactive cultural space that complies with current Brazilian legislation in the field of museology and related areas.
Zoobotanical (ZooCIGS) – The main partner of federal, state and municipal environmental protection agencies, this is the only area in Amazonas able to take in animals that have been seized or recovered and cannot be returned to the wild for health, safety or adaptation reasons. The Army is responsible for taking in and caring for the animals, providing adequate food, veterinary treatment and welfare. The ZooCIGS covers an area of 45,184.7 m², of which 13,117 m² is built and the rest is preserved native forest. The aim is to make the Zoo and Botanical Gardens a reference center for research, education and conservation of Amazonian fauna, as well as offering visitors a unique tourist experience.