Increased migration to Northeast Brazil indicative of a new dawn, remarks Sergio Machado

Famous Brazilian poets including Patativa do Assaré have, for long, in their poems, lamented for having left Northeast Brazil and migrate to South. Their constant desire to go back to their native land has been clearly expressed in their works. And perhaps this has led to a focus shift among people. There has been an increase in the number of people who are migrating to Northeast from Southern regions. This has majorly been spiked because of the growing development in the ‘long neglected’ region, says Jose Sergio de OliveiraMachado.   

As per recent figures collected by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), there has been a decrease in the migration of people from North to South but on the contrary, the case has been reverse. The Northeast has the highest return of migrants. As per Sergio Machado, these stats indicate that there is a new emerging Brazil; a Brazil which has less of disparity and more of unity.

The Northeast and other regions are being provided with new development plans which will facilitate employment and income, thus, changing the lives of millions of Brazilians.

This transformation has been possible owing to the political decisions taken by the Lula Government, for which, development of this region was a major concern. The government decided to expedite the development and take it to a whole new level of extensiveness. Petrobras, for example, is investing in structural programs in the Northeast. This is being looked at as Petrobras’ contribution towards development of the Northern region and helps improve the economic stance of Brazil. The wider emphasis is on making the Northeast self sustainable. In this wake, a keen focus is being laid on developing the education system and strengthening the employment options.

The financial and infrastructural development needs to be in sync with the social development of the people, says Sergio Machado.

Northeast Brazil needs to focus on creating better brains

Past few years have seen Northeast Brazil being devoid of the importance it deserved on the national front. The development it should have received as per the policy projections made by several political parties has been stalled for a really long time. The needs of Northeast Brazil have lain subdued under the conflicting interests of various other states, each wanting its own share of budget and greater share of benefits. But an anticipated importance in the international market and political stability have led to a streak of development in Northeast, which is indicative of the bright prospects the future of the region holds, says Sergio Machado.

There was once a time when Brazil was politically strong and all the regions were aligned towards a common benefit the country but as the political instability grew, this virtue of unity diluted in to a thin idea which held less value. This is the time when President Lula allocated the largest amount of infrastructure projects and investments for the Northeast area. Since a couple of years, development in the area has been the centre of focus. But what the region really needs is sustainable development, remarks Sergio Machado, former president of Transpetro.

He elaborates that Northeast needs to focus diligently on improving its education system in order to create better brains that would further the development. Research centers should be more in number so that the region and its people stay abreast with the latest technology. Sergio Machado also remarks that the prevalent time is one of the best times of Brazil for it is reaching a level where it will be a supplier of various products and services at a global belvedere. It will supply oil, foods and other products. This would create a number of job opportunities for the people. The fact that Brazil is closer to Northern Hemisphere than the southern one should be used to the advantage of the country.

The Northern Brazil does not need cynics and critiques but those who are willing to take an initiative and be an active part of the global shift that is impending.