To encourage regional development, bringing together investors, businessmen and tourists, Governor Eduardo Leite signed, this Monday (14/12), a decree that provides for changes in the policy to encourage aviation in Rio Grande do Sul.
In order to reduce the impacts caused by the pandemic on air transport, the State is reducing the ICMS calculation base on the purchase of kerosene for companies.
In practice, the more routes, seats and frequency of flights, among other parameters, a company offers in RS, the less fuel tax it will pay. The new text, which comes into force in 2021, determines that the tax burden may reach 4%, with a maximum of 7,5%.
“Logistics is fundamental for the development of a State and that is why we made this investment, through this fiscal policy and all the effort we have made to restructure public s and regain investment capacity, in order to be able to comply with with our mission to make life better for all gauchos”, said Leite after g the new decree live on social media.
The measure, the result of dialogue with the sector and the Legislative Assembly, updates Decree 54.685. Signed in July 2019 by the governor and in force since January 1 of this year, it already benefited regional aviation with the reduction of the ICMS calculation base.
As a result, there was a strengthening of regional aviation, through the companies Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras and Gol Linhas Aéreas, shortening the distances from the interior of Rio Grande do Sul to the capital, other states and countries.
“In addition to its people, natural wealth and tourist destinations that are among the most visited in the country, we are a state that is strong in agribusiness, industry, chemistry, among many other productive sectors, but is also a reference in education, with some of the best university institutions and the best technology parks in the country. All this makes our State attractive for people to want to visit, live or participate in its development in some way. Therefore, guaranteeing air routes, not just to the capital, but facilitating routes to the interior is strategic so that all the wealth that the State already has can grow exponentially and so that we can also bring development to the most distant areas”, added the governor.
With the coronavirus pandemic, existing routes ended up being suspended. Currently, RS has six in operation, two of which started this Monday (14/12) – Torres and Canela, both operated by Azul.
“We already have operations in 15 cities in Rio Grande do Sul. No other state comes close to what RS has.”, said the president of Azul, John Rodgerson. Among these 15 are the four routes in operation, the two inaugurated today plus Pelotas and Santa Maria.
Uruguaiana, Caxias do Sul and Santo Ângelo should be retaken in February and the others – São Borja, Santana do Livramento, Bagé, Santa Rosa, Erechim, o Fundo and Vacaria – over the next year.
“Azul will transport vaccines for free in any of these cities and on any of our flights. We are at your disposal, Governor, to do this, because once the pandemic is over, we will fly much higher together”, added Rodgerson.
With this new reality imposed by Covid-19, the government adjusts and makes the rules more flexible to obtain the tax benefit within what is authorized by the National Council for Finance Policy (Confaz).
“This is a permanent government policy despite the pandemic, new conditions and new habits. Within this new reality, it is essential that we make these adjustments to grant the tax benefit and continue to encourage regional aviation in Rio Grande do Sul, considering that this generates economic, social and tourist development for the State”, highlighted the Secretary of Finance, Marco Aurelio Cardoso.
The new decree provides for a reduction in the minimum consumption of kerosene in the semester, to 5 million liters, in addition to a reduction in the availability of seats in the semester, which now stands at 1.404 (before it was 2.808). Each goal has a set of scores and the sum of them will delimit the effective ICMS rate, and the more regular routes made available, the greater the reduction in the tax burden.
“This incentive for new air routes is in line with our strategy to strengthen regional aviation”, emphasizes the secretary of Logistics and Transport, Juvir Costella. “We are also investing in expanding our airports, such as o Fundo and Santo Ângelo, precisely so that the population has more flight options and, with that, the State can speed up business and boost tourism.”
The benefit has already been authorized by Confaz and has been adopted by several States for regional development.
Also present at the g, at the Piratini Palace, were the chief secretary of the Civil House, Otomar Vivian, the leader of the government in the Assembly, deputy Frederico Antunes, deputy Carlo Burigo, in addition to the participation of other representatives of Azul and deputies by videoconference.
