Get to know the stories of Paranaguá employees and the Terminal’s initiatives that have transformed the community in recent years
The relationship between port and city is so deep and strategic that it is part of the identity of most port cities. That’s why, on Monday (29), the date on which Paranaguá celebrates its 376th anniversary, TCP, the company that manages the Paranaguá Container Terminal, is proud to be part of the municipality’s history, driving its economic and social development.
The Terminal currently employs 1,566 people, 579 of whom were hired in the last two years alone. Jonas Albuquerque, TCP’s shift coordinator, was hired in January 2001, just three years after the company was set up. Born and raised in Paranaguá, Jonas has witnessed the growth of the city and the Terminal over the last 23 years, and has fond memories of both TCP and the city.
“I remember that my childhood neighborhood used to be quite residential; today it has become a large industrial area,” he recalls. “I was here when the terminal expanded its yard, and I was part of the team that received and unloaded the first container cranes. Paranaguá has always been the mother city of Paraná, and today it is known for having one of the most organized and productive ports in South America,” adds Jonas.
Gabrielly Cruz, flow and void management coordinator at TCP for 14 years, shares this view. When she was a child, she enjoyed walking along the beach street with her family. Today, she realizes that the city’s transformation is evident and that the Terminal is one of the companies that has played a direct role in this development.
“TCP and the local community help each other a lot. The Terminal not only creates direct and indirect jobs, but also invests in social programs and infrastructure. I have high hopes for the future of Paranaguá and I believe that TCP will be fundamental in boosting the growth of the local economy and improving the quality of life here,” he says.
The strength of Paranaguá’s employees has helped to build this history. Washington Renan Bohnn, TCP’s human resources and quality manager, believes that the Terminal will close 2024 with 1,700 employees. “We have opportunities in various sectors and will open new vacancies for permanent staff by December. The growth in the number of jobs reflects our commitment to boosting social and economic development in Paranaguá,” he explains.
The institutional and legal manager, Rafael Stein, adds: “as well as stimulating the creation of new jobs, TCP’s investments in the Paranaguá Container Terminal have a direct impact on the local economy, since the company’s increased productivity also increases the municipality’s tax revenue, which now has more resources to invest in improving services for the citizens of Paranaguá. Today, TCP is one of Paranaguá’s biggest tax collectors”.
Socio-environmental projects: commitment to the community
TCP’s involvement with the community goes beyond job creation. The Terminal has the privilege of being located in a protected bay, in a place rich in culture, natural beauty and biodiversity, and works to preserve these assets through its socio-environmental initiatives.
Rafael Stein, TCP’s institutional and legal manager, emphasizes the importance of these projects that directly benefit the community. As an example, he cites Community-Based Tourism, which favors local entrepreneurship, and the Solidarity Exchange, which facilitates access to food and basic necessities by recycling waste.
“Another commitment we are proud to make is to encourage the dissemination and recording of caiçara and indigenous culture. Our aim is not only to safeguard the traditions of the Parnanguara people, but also to promote them, as we do through the Fandango Caiçara and Guarani Mbya Cultural Immaterial Assets Management Program,” says Stein.
In the sphere of sustainable development, TCP has actions such as the Environmental Paddle and the Collection of Bottle Caps. Both are examples of projects that preserve the municipality’s natural heritage, the waters and the biodiversity of Paranaguá. In the last edition of the Environmental Paddle, almost a ton of waste was collected from the Itiberê River.
“For us, it’s fundamental to bring the debate on environmental awareness to our employees and the entire Paranaguá community. We understand that it is part of our mission at TCP to generate a positive impact on the city that welcomes us so well,” concludes Stein.
