Businessman Norberto Odebrecht (1920-2014) was honored by the Associação Comercial da Bahia (ACB) during the enthronement ceremony of his portrait in the entity’s Superior Council Room, which took place on May 9, with the presence of authorities, associates, press and family members. Maurício Cruz Lopes, Rodrigo Vilar, Fábio Wanderley and Daniel Sampaio represented the boards of Novonor, OEC, Norberto Odebrecht Foundation and OR at the event. Luiz Gordilho, Fabrício Andrade, Marcelo Gentil, Liana Fontenelle, Cristiane Nascimento, Beatriz Lepikson, Fernanda Visco and Camila Giuliani also attended the ceremony on behalf of the Group.

The initiative was proposed by former ACB president João Sá and director Pedro Daltro. The ceremony was scheduled for October 9, 2020, along with the celebration of Norberto’s birth centennial, but had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Mário Dantas, ACB’s president, this initiative is a reinforcement to the legacy of Dr. Norberto, who was a supporter of ACB and participated in projects that contributed to the economic and social development of Bahia, such as the Port of Aratu, Friusa, Usiba, Aratu Industrial Center and the Camaçari Petrochemical Pole. “Norberto Odebrecht is among the great references for Bahia’s economy. Love for work, innovation, and the search for excellence are among the values that allowed him to build a great company and a management model that to this day is an example to be followed. His contribution is indisputable and I can only thank him for his entrepreneurial vein, which made Odebrecht, today Novonor, one of the few international companies from Bahia”.

A pioneering history

Throughout its 79-year history, the group created in 1944 by Norberto Odebrecht has been responsible for the execution of over 2,900 large-scale projects in more than 30 countries around the world, such as hydroelectric, thermal and nuclear power plants, bridges, viaducts, tunnels, subway and urban train lines, airports, ports, railroads, refineries, industrial and mining projects. The group’s businesses currently employ more than 26,000 workers of different nationalities in the areas of infrastructure, petrochemicals, oil and gas, real estate, mobility, and shipbuilding.

In addition, Norberto created a social foundation that for decades has empowered young people in rural areas of 11 municipalities in Bahia. In 2022, the campaign “Tribute to the Future”, coordinated by the Norberto Odebrecht Foundation-FNO to raise donations for the education of teenagers in rural areas, raised 6.2 million reais. In total, there were more than 1,700 donors who contributed nearly 2 million reais to the cause. Thirty-three companies also participated, with a contribution of about 4 million reais. Tribute to the Future raises funds to finance the training of young people in the Casas Familiares do Baixo Sul da Bahia, rural schools that are partners of the FNO and offer technical courses integrated with high school to young people living in rural areas.

Norberto Odebrecht has also stood out for several social initiatives, such as the partnerships with Irmã Dulce – OSID-  and the São Bento Monastery of Bahia. Current OSID Superintendent, Maria Rita Lopes Pontes, remembers that Norberto Odebrecht remained on the institution’s Board of the institution until the end, faithful to the friendship and commitment of Santa Dulce’s Amar e Servir. “And so, the years of a friendship sedimented in faith, determination and trust passed between these two people who changed the history of Bahia.”

For Novonor’s CEO, Héctor Nuñez, this recognition reinforces the distinguished life example and greatness of the company’s founder. “May this always be the greatest reference among us members and a source of inspiration in the daily practice of Our Culture.”