The Chamber of Deputies plenary approved, this Tuesday (19), Complementary Law Project (PLP) 262/2019, which authorizes cooperatives to access resources from the main federal regional development funds in the country. The proposal includes these entities among the beneficiaries of the Northeast Development Fund (FDNE), the Amazon Development Fund (FDA) and the Central-West Development Fund (FDCO). Authored by Senator Flávio Arns (PSB-PR), the text amends Provisional Measure No. 2,156-5/2001, Provisional Measure No. 2,157-5/2001 and Complementary Law No. 129/2009 to allow cooperatives to access existing resources destined for the financing of productive and regional infrastructure projects. The Parliamentary Agricultural Front (FPA) supported the approval of the proposal, understanding that the measure expands access to credit, strengthens production chains, and stimulates new investments in the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions. The president of the caucus, Federal Deputy Pedro Lupion (Republicanos-PR), stated that the project strengthens the productive sector and expands investment opportunities. “Cooperatives drive the economy of the Brazilian interior, organize producers, and help generate employment and income. Guaranteeing access to regional funds means expanding development and encouraging new investments in the regions that need it most,” he declared. The vice-president of the FPA in the House, Federal Deputy Arnaldo Jardim (Cidadania-SP), affirmed that the measure represents an important advance for Brazilian cooperativism. “Cooperativism is an instrument of sustainable development, economic inclusion, and strengthening of communities. The proposal recognizes this role and expands the conditions for cooperatives to continue investing and generating opportunities,” he said.
Credit and regional development
Federal Deputy Evair de Melo (PP-ES) highlighted that the proposal could increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized producers organized in cooperatives. “Many cooperatives operate in regions where traditional credit is not easily accessible. Access to regional funds strengthens collective entrepreneurship, boosts investment, and generates opportunities for producers,” he stated. The author of the bill, Senator Flávio Arns (PSB-PR), affirmed that regional funds finance strategic initiatives for economic growth and that the inclusion of cooperatives could amplify the positive impacts of these resources. “The funds have resources for important projects in the areas of infrastructure, public services, and productive enterprises, capable of boosting new businesses, generating jobs, income, and opportunities for thousands of Brazilians,” he declared. The rapporteur of the proposal in the Constitution, Justice and Citizenship Committee (CCJC), Federal Deputy Bia Kicis (PL-DF), stated that the bill corrects a historical distortion and strengthens Brazilian cooperativism. “We are ensuring that cooperatives can also access these resources, bringing investment, employment, and development to those who produce and generate income throughout Brazil,” she said. The congresswoman also emphasized that the proposal is in accordance with the law and does not create new public spending. According to her, the measure expands support for the productive sector without additional fiscal impact for the Union. During the bill's passage through the Chamber of Deputies, the favorable opinion in the National Integration and Regional Development Committee was presented by federal deputy Daniel Agrobom (PSD-GO), who defended the proposal as an instrument for strengthening the regional economy and encouraging production. “Cooperatives play a fundamental role in the development of producing regions, especially in the interior of the country. By expanding access to regional funds, we are strengthening those who generate employment, income, and local development,” stated the parliamentarian. In the Finance and Taxation Committee (CFT), the rapporteur was federal deputy Marussa Boldrin (Republicanos-GO), who concluded that the proposal does not generate an increase in public spending because it is essentially normative in nature. “We are talking about a fiscally responsible measure that does not create new expenses, but improves the allocation of existing resources, expanding their reach and effectiveness,” stated the congresswoman. According to the vice-president of the FPA in the Central-West region, the inclusion of cooperatives as beneficiaries of regional funds strengthens decentralized economic development and expands the social reach of public policies. “Cooperatives have capillarity, they know the local reality and they manage to ensure that public resources actually reach those who produce, especially micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, who are often left out of traditional credit,” declared Marussa. PLP 262/2019 had already been approved by the Federal Senate in July 2024 and now goes to the President for sanction.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.