Local Development Agenda
Local Development Agenda
Our growth strategy focuses on creating value and considers the development of Port of Açu and the surrounding communities to be indissociable. The goal is to leave a positive legacy for the Northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, sharing value with all stakeholders. We
want to make a difference!
We are committed to generating opportunities for the local population, stoking entrepreneurship, developing the local supply chain and nurturing the innovation ecosystem. We create opportunities and promote leadership by valuing local traditions and supply chains.
Learn more about our Social Agenda pillars below:
Engagement in sustainable development:
Through various initiatives, we seek to foster sustainable development and local economic progress, while contributing to the continuous improvement of quality of life in the region. To achieve this, we use engagement tools and dialog channels aimed at fostering transparent and
enduring relationships and making improvements in our operations. Learn more about our programs:
- Community Dialog Spaces: Since 2015, we have been meeting with representatives of local communitiesto establish a permanent dialogue and relationship channel.
- Local Development Council (CDL): In order to also engage with the community, the Local Development Council was created in 2018 as a voluntary forum for discussions and alignment of strategic priorities for territorial development. It is composed of representatives from various social entities from the Northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro who, in co-creative meetings, discuss the main challenges for the region’s sustainable development, in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Port of Açu’s growth prospects.
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PORTodos Visitor Program: Launched in 2019 in partnership with the city of São João da Barra, Portodos is our program that offers guided tours of Açu. The idea is to bring the local community closer to the activities of the port complex through interactive visits to its various areas.
Tours can be booked via email: visita.portodos@portodoacu.com.br. -
Traffic Safety Program: Through the Traffic Safety Program, we have an annual calendar of actions to reduce accident rates in the region. Together with other terminals and companies in the complex, related institutions, and public authorities, we promote education and awareness actions and invest in road infrastructure and internal control and prevention processes.
- * Since 2022, we have been part of the National Traffic Observatory’s Laço Amarelo Program, to further contribute to safer traffic.
- Fisher community engagement: Since 2019 we act in partnership with other companies within the port complex and the fishing colonies from São João da Barra, São Francisco de Itabapoana e Campos dos Goytacazes. Together with these communities, we developed actions that improve navigation safety, management of the shared offshore areas, and support for artisanal fishing activities through the Fishing Relationship Program.
- Caruara Reserve Visitor Center: Voluntarily established in 2012, the Caruara Reserve lies at the heart of our biodiversity conservation actions. The reserve is open to visitors as part of our engagement initiatives for the region's sustainable development. In 2022, the Visitor Center was created. Learn more at Caruara Reserve.
- AbrAÇU Volunteer: Spontaneously created in 2017 by the Port’s employees, the AbrAÇU Volunteer Program relies on the solidary work not only of representatives of the complex, but also of members of the community and local institutions who take part in social, environmental, cultural, and sports activities. Do you want to participate? Come and join us!
Generation of Opportunities:
We believe in the potential of local supply chains and work to strengthen them by stoking entrepreneurship, vocational qualifications, family farming, and fostering the local innovation ecosystem. These efforts aim to expand income generation opportunities for the local population
and to make the region’s economy more dynamic.
- Social entrepreneurship: Started in 2021 in collaboration with CIEDS, the Juventude Empreendedora (Entrepreneurial Youth) program aims to support the development of skills and competencies of young entrepreneurs in the São João da Barra region.
- Vocational Qualification: Aiming to provide new income opportunities for local residents, we conducted 11 vocational qualification courses in partnership with the Rio de Janeiro State Federation of Industry (Firjan) and the National Industrial Training Service (Senai), among other institutions.
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Family Farming Strengthening: By providing training and technical assistance and encouraging them to sell their agricultural products to companies and restaurants in the Port, we support the association of rural producers Associação de Produtores Rurais do Vila da Terra (APROVILA) and the farming community of Alto do Cardeiro.
The initiatives with APROVILA are part of our contribution to maintaining the standard of living of the families that used to reside on properties in the area of the Industrial District of São João da Barra and are currently living in the Vila da Terra Resettlement Program. With the Feira no Porto (Farmers Market at the Port) Project, we encourage collective organization and marketing of the community’s agricultural production to companies in Port of Açu, promoting income generation.
In partnership with Chevron do Brasil Óleo e Gás and UFRRJ (Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro), we provide technical assistance and support for the marketing of agricultural products to the Alto do Cardeiro community, contributing to the growth of local family farming. -
Fostering the local innovation ecosystem: We work to strengthen the local innovation ecosystem as part of our Innovation Program by acting on several fronts.
We have held two editions of HACKAÇU, our innovation marathon focused on sustainable solutions for the Northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro and the Port and, in partnership with SEBRAE, we created the Startup Win Ideação Project to help develop business models and form startups in the Açu region.
Local supply chain inclusion:
Porto do Açu’s operations generate direct and indirect economic impacts on the local economy. Business expansion increases tax revenue and creates more jobs throughout the region, leading to greater purchasing power for families.
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Employability Network: We manage the Employability Network, a platform for attracting labor to Port of Açu that prioritizes hiring local talent. Through this Network, we connect job opportunities to a database of resumes, promoting synergies and supporting selection processes.
Interested in joining our TIMAÇU? Come with us and register your resume at trabalheconosco.vagas.com.br/rede-de-empregabilidade -
Conexão Açu: We promote the exchange of knowledge with educational institutions in the Açu region, providing an interface between students and professionals in the port, industrial, and energy sectors, among others.
Our actions include programs to encourage professional training, such as Higher Education Internship, Young Apprentice, Young Professional, and Technical Internship, in addition to the PORTODAS program—exclusively dedicated to women. -
PORTodos Fornecedores: Through the Local Supplier Development Program, which includes a Working Group formed with other companies in the Port and the Economic Development Department of the city of São João da Barra (RJ), we look to boost the region’s supply chain. We have a virtual registration platform and a call center in place to answer questions, in addition to performing engagement and training activities.
We also conduct Business Rounds to connect supply opportunities at Port of Açu with companies in the region, in partnership with Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF), SEBRAE, and other companies in the complex. Training activities involve a variety of topics, such as the ESG Journey which, in partnership with FIRJAN (Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro), provided training in environmental, social, and governance aspects for nearly 300 companies in the region.
Contact us
Through the Fale Com o Porto do Açu (Talk to Port of Açu) channel, we receive reports, which can be confidential and that are answered within seven business days.
- Toll-free number (daily from 7am to 8pm): 0800 729 0810
- Website Contact to Port of Açu
- Hotline (every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.): 0800 729 0810
- Website Contact to Port of Açu: https://canalconfidencial.com.br/falecomoportodoacu/
Spaces for Community Dialogue
Since 2015, we have been meeting with representatives of local communities to establish a permanent dialogue and relationship channel. In 2022, we had six meetings with more than 190 participants, where we presented and debated strategic topics for local development.
Local Development Council (CDL)
In order to also engage with the community, the Local Development Council was created in 2018 as a voluntary forum for discussions and alignment of strategic priorities for territorial development. It is composed of representatives from various social entities from the Northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro who, in co-creative meetings, discuss the main challenges for the region’s sustainable development, in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Port of Açu’s growth prospects.
The CDL gave rise to three main fronts:
Sustainable Entrepreneurship:
In 2021, this topic was addressed in a hackathon that explored sustainability innovation fronts proposed by Port of Açu, in addition to the launch of a course called Juventude Empreendedora (Entrepreneurial Youth). Learn more at: www.hackacu.com.br
Stronger Education:
Discussions are underway to develop a proposal for a 21st century school, and structuring aspects such as governance, relationships, physical and virtual spaces, learning methodologies, and tools are being considered.
Social Observatory:
The 1st Social Observatory Forum brought together professionals with observatory experience in Brazil to engage local agents and institutions, seeking to monitor environmental, social, and economic indicators, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Portodos Visitors' Program
Launched in 2019 in partnership with the city of São João da Barra, Portodos is our program that offers guided tours of Açu. The idea is to bring the local community closer to the activities of the port complex through interactive visits to its various areas.
Tours can be booked via email visita.portodos@portodoacu.com.br.
Port of Açu Volunteer Program
Spontaneously created in 2017 by the Port’s employees, the AbrAÇU Volunteer Program relies on the solidary work not only of representatives of the complex, but also of members of the community and local institutions who take part in social, environmental, cultural, and sports activities.
Artisanal fishing
We understand the importance of artisanal fishing as part of the history of the Northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro and as a contribution to the socio-economic development of the region. Since 2019, together with other companies in the complex, we have been working in the fishing communities of São João da Barra, São Francisco de Itabapoana, and Campos dos Goytacazes. We contribute on three fronts:
- Fishing Forums, to engage in dialogue with the fishing community and promote safety in navigation and in interactions with maritime and port activities;
- Support for Training, with professional courses; and
- Monitoring of Fishing Landings, tracking daily data on productivity, number and flow of fishing vessels, and priority fishing areas, among others, to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of the activities in the area and, consequently, better management of the territory.
Local Economic Development
In our commitment to regional development, we work to expand the employability of local workers and develop and hire suppliers in the region.
Traffic Safety Program
Through the Traffic Safety Program, we have an annual calendar of actions to reduce accident rates in the region. Together with other terminals and companies in the complex, related institutions, and public authorities, we promote education and awareness actions and invest in road infrastructure and internal control and prevention processes.
Since 2022, we have been part of the National Traffic Observatory’s Laço Amarelo Program, to further contribute to safer traffic.
Our partners
Career opportunities for local talent
We invest in training activities, such as the Employability Network, Conexão Açu, and professional training programs in order to increase the share of local workers in Port of Açu.
Employability Network
We manage the Employability Network, a platform for attracting labor to Port of Açu that prioritizes hiring local talent. Through this Network, we connect job opportunities to a database of resumes, promoting synergies and supporting selection processes.
Interested in joining our TIMAÇU? Come with us and register your resume at trabalheconosco.vagas.com.br/rede-de-empregabilidade
Conexão Açu
We promote the exchange of knowledge with educational institutions in the Açu region, providing an interface between students and professionals in the port, industrial, and energy sectors, among others.
Our actions include programs to encourage professional training, such as Higher Education Internship, Young Apprentice, Young Professional, and Technical Internship, in addition to the PORTODAS program—exclusively dedicated to women.
Stimulating the regional supply chain
Through the Local Supplier Development Program, which includes a Working Group formed with other companies in the Port and the Economic Development Department of the city of São João da Barra (RJ), we look to boost the region’s supply chain. We have a virtual registration platform and a call center in place to answer questions, in addition to performing engagement and training activities.
We also conduct Business Rounds to connect supply opportunities at Port of Açu with companies in the region, in partnership with Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF), SEBRAE, and other companies in the complex. Training activities involve a variety of topics, such as the ESG Journey which, in partnership with FIRJAN (Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro), provided training in environmental, social, and governance aspects for nearly 300 companies in the region.
Social entrepreneurship
Started in 2021 in collaboration with CIEDS, the Juventude Empreendedora (Entrepreneurial Youth) program aims to support the development of skills and competencies of young entrepreneurs in the São João da Barra region. With an emphasis on generating viable forms of income and social transformation in the region, the second edition of the program took place in 2023, with more than 120 applicants and 61 entrepreneurs selected.
Fostering the Local Innovation Ecosystem
We work to strengthen the local innovation ecosystem as part of our Innovation Program by acting on several fronts.
We have held two editions of HACKAÇU, our innovation marathon focused on sustainable solutions for the Northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro and the Port and, in partnership with SEBRAE, we created the Startup Win Ideação Project to help develop business models and form startups in the Açu region.
We also participate in and contribute to regional forums and innovation marathons, such as FIRJAN Norte’s Innovation Working Group, Inova Campos, run by the City of Campos dos Goytacazes, and HackIFF, an online innovation marathon promoted by Instituto Federal Fluminense.
Strengthening Family Farming
We support the association of rural producers Associação de Produtores Rurais do Vila da Terra (APROVILA) and the farming community of Alto do Cardeiro by providing training and technical assistance and encouraging them to sell their agricultural products to companies and restaurants in the Port.
The initiatives with APROVILA are part of our contribution to maintaining the standard of living of the families that used to reside on properties in the area of the Industrial District of São João da Barra and are currently living in the Vila da Terra Resettlement Program. With the Feira no Porto (Farmers Market at the Port) Project, we encourage collective organization and marketing of the community’s agricultural production to companies in Port of Açu, promoting income generation.
In partnership with Chevron do Brasil Óleo e Gás and UFRRJ (Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro), we provide technical assistance and support for the marketing of agricultural products to the Alto do Cardeiro community, contributing to the growth of local family farming.
Feira no Porto
To promote local family farming in marketing the agricultural products produced by the residents of the Vila da Terra Rural Resettlement, we have been developing the Feira no Port (Farmer’s Market at the Port ) Project since 2017. The project consists of selling the products at Port of Açu, which contributes to income generation for farmers and benefits the employees of companies installed at the port, who have the opportunity to consume agroecological products. In 2020 and 2021, due to COVID-19, the farmers’ market was itinerant, with food delivered in open spaces. In April 2022, it returned to Port of Açu.
Program for the Development of Local Suppliers
From 2011 to 2017, in partnership with SEBRAE (Brazilian Support Services for Micro and Small Enterprises), we promoted actions to develop local suppliers through training and connections with the service network, in compliance with environmental permitting requirements.
Upon completion of this stage, the program became voluntary and, in 2020, we established a Working Group (WG) with the Economic Development Department of the city of São João da Barra. Through the WG, we carry out actions to approach, map, and train suppliers in the region, such as the Workshop for Training Local Suppliers led by the Industry Federation of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN), the Opportunities in the Port of Açu Seminar, and the second edition of the event Semana Polo do Mar Conecta, all held in 2021.
To identify potential suppliers and ensure efficient hiring processes, we have an online platform to register suppliers and answer questions about the channel.
Employability Network
The Regional Employability Network aims to connect talent from the cities of São João da Barra and Campos dos Goytacazes to job opportunities in the port complex. The action has four pillars:
• Integrated registration of the resumes of local workers and communication of opportunities available at the Port of Açu Employability Network – trabalheconosco.vagas.com.br/rede-de-empregabilidade;
• Support for the selection processes of companies based in Port of Açu through selection and screening of resumes submitted to the Employability Network;
• Consolidation and monitoring of Port of Açu’s employability data so that professionals can be used in other projects in the port complex;
• Engagement and local development, started in 2019, with a round of lectures and training workshops in partnership with educational institutions in the region. We have created and developed the Conexão Açu (Açu Connections) project to connect students and professionals in the Port, Industrial, and Energy sectors.
- Integrated registration of the resumes of local workers and communication of opportunities available at the Port of Açu Employability Network – trabalheconosco.vagas.com.br/rede-de-empregabilidade;
- Support for the selection processes of companies based in Port of Açu through selection and screening of resumes submitted to the Employability Network;
- Consolidation and monitoring of Port of Açu’s employability data so that professionals can be used in other projects in the port complex;
- Engagement and local development, started in 2019, with a round of lectures and training workshops in partnership with educational institutions in the region. We have created and developed the Conexão Açu (Açu Connections) project to connect students and professionals in the Port, Industrial, and Energy sectors.
Support for Vulnerable Populations
Vila da Terra Resettlement
To support the standard of living of families who lived in properties that formed the Industrial District of São João da Barra (DISJB), together with the Industrial Development Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CODIN) and the city of São João da Barra, we developed the Vila da Terra resettlement program. We acquired a 908-hectare property to which 53 families were relocated, according to eligibility criteria defined by a social diagnostic prepared by CODIN. The lots — with areas equal to or greater than those previously occupied — were provided with furnished homes, fencing, access roads, drainage, public lighting, water and power distribution networks, sewage collection, and water wells. Additionally, social and agricultural technical support was offered and the adaptation and productivity conditions were monitored, including the development of activities and training courses. We also supported the creation of the Vila da Terra Rural Producers’ Association (APROVILA), assigning approximately 145 hectares and offering training actions and technical support to members, including support for marketing agricultural production.
Humanitarian Actions Committee
In addition to establishing measures and procedures for the prevention, control, and response to emergencies related to COVID-19, we established the Humanitarian Actions Committee in partnership with Ferroport, Vast Infraestrutura, and Gás Natural Açu (GNA). This temporary committee has focused efforts on four fronts:
- Accurate and precise information, in simple language and accessible to the largest number of people
- Support for healthcare professionals
- Essential equipment for treating severe cases
- Special attention to the most vulnerable populations
In addition to establishing measures and procedures for the prevention, control, and response to emergencies related to COVID-19, we established the Humanitarian Actions Committee in partnership with Ferroport, Vast Infraestrutura, and Gás Natural Açu (GNA). This temporary committee has focused efforts on four fronts:
• Accurate and precise information, in simple language and accessible to the largest number of people;
• Support for healthcare professionals;
• Essential equipment for treating severe cases;
• Special attention to the most vulnerable populations.
Learn about another topic related to People and Community
Our People
We work to attract and retain talent and to develop and encourage the health and well-being of our employees. We also foster a diverse and inclusive work environment through our Quality of Life Program and our Diversity and Inclusion Agenda.
