At an Instituto Diálogos seminar, the senator stressed the importance of financing, innovation and investment security instruments capable of turning Brazil’s mineral potential into economic development.
The approval of the National Policy on Critical and Strategic Minerals is a step forward for Brazil, but the ability to turn the opportunities opened up by the new legislation into concrete results will depend on the next steps in its regulation.
This was one of the reflections shared by Senator Tereza Cristina, Chair of the Board of Directors of Instituto Diálogos, during the seminar “Critical Minerals: From the New Law to Industrial Transformation,” held in Brasília on October 8.
In her remarks, the senator stressed that regulation must establish the conditions needed to bring mineral policy closer to industrial policy. Among the instruments considered fundamental are access to financing, the creation of guarantee mechanisms for mining activity, support for research and technological development, and international integration strategies.
The challenge is especially relevant given the growing global demand for minerals used in industrial, energy and digital technologies. Although Brazil has significant geological potential, turning these resources into development opportunities requires investment, technological capacity and coordination among different sectors.
Addressing the risks of this stage, Tereza Cristina warned that inconsistencies and delays in regulation could jeopardize the use of the opportunities opened up by the new policy.
To illustrate the importance of a long-term vision, the senator also drew on Brazil’s experience in agribusiness, the sector in which she built her professional career. Her reflection highlighted the country’s ability to overcome historical obstacles through planning, political determination and seizing opportunities.
The message reinforces one of the seminar’s central discussions: the advance of the critical and strategic minerals production chain depends not only on the availability of these resources, but also on conditions that favor investment, innovation and value added within Brazil.
By bringing together representatives of government, industry and research institutions, Instituto Diálogos contributes to the continuation of this discussion, fostering an environment of plural and informed dialogue on the paths to Brazil’s development.
Watch Senator Tereza Cristina’s full speech:
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