Brazil budget cuts cause project delays

Brazil’s Transport Ministry is to postpone 30 major projects due to budget cuts. The Ministry of Transport says that 30 projects that would have been launched in 2015 will now be postponed due to the reduced budget. The cut is estimated to be between 30% and 40% of the Ministry's budget, cutting up to US$2.04 billion in funding. Instead the Transport Ministry will now focus on projects that are already complete or close to being finished. However those projects considered to be of value to the national economy will be given priority. These projects include the expansion of the BR-163 highway, as this route is key to the transportation of foodstuffs in the Central-West region. The list of projects now likely to be postponed has not so far been released however due to concerns over the potential political backlash. When this list becomes available it is likely to trigger criticism.