Conceived of as a free trade industrial zone, the northern Amazonian city of Manaus initially attracted several multinational companies, however activity did subsequently dissipate. In a bid to continue guaranteeing fresh investment and jobs, several projects are set to shift the region’s growth trajectory towards Industry 4.0 by boosting leading edge technology–based research and training.
With a population of 2 million, the Amazonas State city of Manaus is located at the heart of a tropical rainforest and since the 1970s has been a key national industrial zone, including the creation of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (MFTZ). The MFTZ has given growth to industrial activity spanning electronics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, agri-food and two-wheel vehicle production. Set up in 1967 for a period of 30 years, tax exemption conditions have been renewed until 2073. These tax incentives are the factors driving the former rubber capital’s economic and demographic boom, and notwithstanding the fact that Manaus continues to be only accessible by air or water.
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