The industry that transforms and projects Ponta Grossa by Rafael Rickli

The economic history of Ponta Grossa can be read as a succession of paths that meet. First, the routes of the troperos; then, the rails and the highways; later, the global chains of production. At each stage, the city was able to transform its geographical position into an opportunity. The implementation of the Industrial District Cyro Martins in the 1970s gave planned form to this vocation and opened space for continuous industrialization. What began as a grain processing plant has become, over the course of half a century, a diversified factory park integrated with the national and international markets.

Currently, Ponta Grossa houses the largest industrial pole of the Paraná interior. In the municipality coexist global groups, cooperatives, national companies and a network of small and medium-sized industries supplying products, services and technology. Alimentos e bebidas, agribusiness, paper and packaging, metalworking, wood, chemicals, fertilizers, rubber, automation and transportation equipment form a productive base that does not depend on a single activity. Companies such as Cargill, Bunge, Ambev, Heineken, Tetra Pak, DAF/PACCAR, Continental and Friesland project the name of the city, while hundreds of local businesses complete the value chains and make the wealth circular in the territory.

The numbers reflect the scale of this transformation. In 2024, the Tax Value Added generated by industry reached about R$ 14.06 billion, corresponding to 64.6% of the total municipal VAF. In 2020, that value was about R$ 6.1 billion. In four years, therefore, the tax wealth produced by the sector has more than doubled. The VAF measures how much each activity adds to the economy and influences the participation of the municipality in the distribution of the ICMS. When the industry grows, the public collection, the market for suppliers, the circulation of income and the opportunities for the population are strengthened.

The industrial presence is also revealed in employment. Of the approximately 108,000 formal links existing in Ponta Grossa, approximately 21.7 thousand are in the industry—almost one in five. These positions range from operation and maintenance to engineering, technology, logistics and management. By demanding qualification and generating chains with trade and services, the factory produces effects far beyond its gates. Each new production line moves conveyors, workshops, automation companies, offices and suppliers of numerous specialties.

This strength is not just a result of the privileged location. The junction of the railways, the proximity of the Port of Paranaguá and the connection with the markets of the South and Southeast remain decisive, but the city added other assets: universities, research centers and a professional training structure supported by SESI and SENAI. Added to this is the work of ACIPG, FIEP, the House of Industry, CDEPG, business centers and public authorities. The ability to bring together different institutions around common challenges transforms isolated demands into a development agenda.

The next cycle, however, will require more than attracting new plants. It will be necessary to ensure reliable and competitive energy, expand the supply of skilled workers, improve transport and access to industrial districts, diversify air connectivity and modernize logistics infrastructure. The implementation of a dry port, the updating of highways and railways, the availability of industrial areas and the agility of public processes will be decisive to maintain growth. It will also be necessary to advance innovation, sustainability and value aggregation, so that Ponta Grossa and Campos Gerais are recognized not only as producers of raw materials, but as a region capable of transforming them into products, knowledge and technology.

The challenge is to grow without losing the ability to plan. The Masterplan Ponta Grossa 2043 offers a long-term vision, but its realization will depend on the cooperation between industry, government, academia and society. The experience of the city demonstrates that no great achievement was the result of a single actor. This is the case with roads, energy, the industrial district and vocational training; this should also be the case with the infrastructure and talents needed for the future.

From ancient winters to modern production lines, Ponta Grossa preserves the essence of a place where paths meet and business thrives. Its chimneys no longer represent just factories: they represent jobs, innovation, income and belonging. If stumbles taught the city to welcome those who were passing by, the industry taught to create reasons to stay. It is from this union of strategic position, work and cooperation that Ponta Grossa continues to build its place in the global economy.

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Article by Rafael Rickli for the book: "PONTA GROSSA: From the Tropeiros Route to the Tracks of Innovation"

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