Fiemg calculates daily loss of BRL 90 million for Minas Gerais economy with rains

In addition to the growing number of deaths and homeless people due to the intense rains in Minas Gerais in recent months, the Federation of State Industries (Fiemg) calculates a daily loss of over BRL 90 million to the economy with the stoppage of activities and the interdiction of roads. throughout the Minas Gerais territory, with an impact of R$ 41 million just for the industrial sector.

In the first ten days of 2022 alone, the estimate is that losses could exceed R$ 1.1 billion – equivalent to 0.2% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to the Civil Defense, between October 1, 2020 and January 13 of this year, 25 deaths were recorded as a result of heavy rains.

In addition, 4,047 people were homeless and another 26,492 were displaced. Of the 853 municipalities in Minas Gerais, 374 have already declared a state of emergency.

Fiemg points out that 17,000 companies were impacted in cities that had road closures. Together, they employ 225,000 people.

Considering only the industrial sector, 2,340 companies were affected, with around 80,000 jobs. The rains also interrupted the operation of railroads in the state, blocking the flow of cargo to the coastal ports.

The entity points out that the federal government has already allocated R$ 48 million in aid to the municipalities of Minas Gerais, but adds that it will help municipalities in the request for more resources to repair the damage caused by the storms.

“Minas Gerais accesses few resources from the federal government because often small municipalities do not have the infrastructure to make the request”, considered the president of Fiemg, Flávio Roscoe.