John Deere announces investment of R$ 700 million for expansion in Goias, Brazil

World leader in the supply of agricultural equipment, John Deere confirmed an investment of R$ 700 million to expand the factory installed in the municipality of Catalão. On the other hand, Governor Ronaldo Caiado announced infrastructure works in the Catalão Mining and Industrial District (Dimic) and intersectoral cooperation to support the company. "We are going to expand our investments to meet the demand of the companies that are investing and make our state of Goiás increasingly receptive," said the governor, highlighting the joint effort that should generate 400 jobs in the next five years.

Caiado, along with representatives of the company and the city hall, signed a protocol of intent to formalize the partnership. For the head of the Goiás Executive, the state's economic policy has kept pace to meet the needs of the industrial sector. "Here you have a government that fulfills its share. We built a state that, today, is the best evaluated in the country," said the governor.

Head of the Secretariat of Industry, Commerce and Services, Joel de Sant'Anna Braga Filho listed during his speech the reasons why companies of all sizes and sectors have invested in the state. "Hard work by the governor, his team, committed mayors and industries that settle in Goiás because they know that here there is public and legal security, health and quality of life for people who move here," he pondered.

John Deere's expansion will add more than 7,000 square meters to the 42,000 square meters of the industrial plant, located in Dimic, an area managed by the Goiás Development Company (Codego). "We want to bring the best manufacturing processes and the latest technologies that we will develop first here in Brazil, then take to the United States and Europe," said John Deere's global vice president, Joaquim Fernandes. "We will continue to make the investments. The Catalão plant is one of the best in the world," he added as he thanked the government for its support.

The company's goal is to expand the production of sprayers and harvesters with digital technology. One of the planned novelties is the production and sale of a system capable of identifying the exact location of weeds and directing the application of herbicide. "The project announced today aims to expand the existing structure and enables the nationalization of this technology," said the director of the Catalão plant, Edison Drescher. "We are in a region where you can produce and preserve at the same time. It's a historic day," said Antonio Carrere, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Latin America.

The state government's intervention foresees the duplication of the access and internal roads of the Dimic, installation of signage and speed reducers; in addition to the renovation of public lighting on site. "The goal of Goiás is to have high-tech industries here that offer work to the people of Goiás, that offer conditions and professional qualification," said Vice Governor Daniel Vilela.

The training of the workforce will have the support of the municipality. "Innovation and progress are customs of the people of Catalan. The rule is to invest and grow," said Catalan Mayor Adib Elias. The head of the Secretary of State for Infrastructure (Seinfra), Pedro Sales, also participated in the ceremony.

Installed in a strategic geographical position, on the banks of the BR-050 highway, Dimic has 2.4 million square meters and has more than 60 industries installed. In addition to John Deere, there are ventures in the food, construction, automotive, and logistics segments. At the site, 4 thousand direct jobs are generated.