Funding for the next year also includes a contribution of 20 million reais ($3.65 million), intended for the digital transformation of the agency.
Brazil’s competition authority is set to receive its largest budget in history next year, according to interim president Gustavo Augusto Freitas de Lima. The proposed funding includes an anticipated cash flow adjustment — details of which remain undisclosed — and a 20 million reais ($3.65 million) contribution from the Federal Fund for Diffuse Rights (FDD) earmarked for digital transformation.
Speaking at an event, de Lima emphasized that the negotiation was led by Alexandre Cordeiro, the former president of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense, or CADE, and confirmed that 10 million reais has already been disbursed. The digital transformation project is expected to span 18 months, with the first delivery ceremony scheduled for December.
The 20 million reais allocated for digital transformation represents more than a third of the 58 million reais de Lima estimates CADE needs annually to operate — excluding personnel costs. He did not give an exact figure for the budget CADE would receive next year.
A significant portion of that 20 million reais will be invested in digital security infrastructure, including firewalls and a twenty-fold increase in backup capacity, de Lima said. Part of the new backup system will be hosted outside CADE’s physical premises, with the agency considering a data exchange model with other regulatory bodies to safeguard information in case of emergencies such as fires.
On the topic of digital transformation, CADE’s president praised the implementation of the Virtual Deliberative Circuit (CDV) — a system that allows councilors to vote outside the scheduled ruling sessions — calling it “a step forward.” He highlighted the platform’s ability to accelerate decision-making and enable rulings during recess periods.
To enhance transparency, CADE is developing a new public module that will provide visibility into all cases under deliberation and those already adjudicated via the CDV. The module is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
Despite de Lima’s optimism, the CDV drew criticism from lawyers attending the event, who raised concerns about a lack of transparency in the system.
Further improvements are also planned for CADE’s E-Notifica platform and its jurisprudence search tool, aimed at enhancing the user experience for legal professionals.
De Lima spoke about his broader plans for the remainder of his presidency. These include a review of internal procedures and preparations for the upcoming leadership transition. Both de Lima and Councilor Vitor Fernandes are set to conclude their terms this year, along with CADE Superintendent Alexandre Barreto.
Source: MLex
