The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), avoided confirming any electoral movement for 2026, but adopted a speech of national projection when arguing that Brazil needs to occupy a new space in the global economy. The speech was made at a UBS event, this Wednesday (26).
According to him, the country cannot accommodate itself as a producer of commodities and has competitive advantages in sectors such as agribusiness and clean energy.
stated that the world is looking for “reliable partners” in food security and energy security, and that Brazil has the conditions to play these roles. He cited the increase in agricultural productivity with environmental preservation as evidence of this potential, highlighting that the country should “put on its agri-environmental power hat” in international forums.
Continues after advertising
The governor also projected opportunities in the energy transition. He recalled that Brazil has developed chains such as first and second generation ethanol, biomethane, biogas and sustainable fuels, in addition to new applications of ethanol in navigation. For him, this puts the country at an advantage in a global scenario of searching for low-carbon energy.
Despite recognizing this potential, Tarcísio warned that the country should not limit itself to the basic functions of the traditional economy. He argued that the growth of data centers and digital infrastructure in the state of São Paulo needs to be accompanied by policies that capture value, and not just energy consumption. “We can’t be a data repository”, he stated, adding that the risk is that the country will “simply become an energy exporter”, another commodity in its diagnosis.
When defending Brazil’s insertion in high-value-added sectors, Tarcísio cited rare earth reserves and the need to advance in semiconductors, supercomputers and artificial intelligence. According to him, the country must seek an active role in the “knowledge economy”, exploring its natural, energy and industrial advantages to integrate strategic chains. Otherwise, he stated, Brazil will lose the chance to capture wealth in the global technological transition.
Even without declaring electoral intentions, the governor aligned his speech with central themes of national politics: competitiveness, reindustrialization and geopolitical positioning. In a moderate tone, he reinforced that the country is capable of leading clean, sophisticated and technological chains, as long as it takes a step beyond its historical dependence on commodities.
