March 2 marked the 1st Seminar on the Basic Social Sector Tax Administration and Management Modernization Program (PMAT) at the Papuã Center, in Ibirapitanga, Bahia. Organized by the Pratigi Environmental Protection Area Intermunicipal Consortium (CIAPRA), an association supported by the Odebrecht Foundation, the event presented the operations of PMAT – an initiative of the Brazilian National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) – and debated improvements for public management.

The five municipalities included in the Pratigi Environmental Protection Area – Ituberá,
Igrapiúna, Piraí do Norte, Nilo Peçanha and Ibirapitanga –, with the support of CIAPRA, will be included in the Automatic PMAT financing plans, one of the program categories. This will promote management modernization and help improve the quality of public spending in the municipalities. “This will contribute toward the development of businesses and public policies,” said Ricardo Tanure, from the Social Area Public Management Department at BNDES, during his presentation.

Also present at the event were Mauricio Medeiros, Executive Chairman of the Odebrecht Foundation; Paula Ravanelli, representative from the Brazilian Federal Department of Institutional Relations; Marcelo Oliveira, Development and Business Director at the Bahia State Development Agency (DESANBAHIA); Antônio Dourado, Coordinator of the Bahia State Municipalities’ Court of Auditors (TCM-BA); Paulo Ricardo, Director of DBSeller, in addition to mayors, city council members, municipal secretaries and the local community.