Salvador has an economic structure typically tertiary, with activities predominantly linked to commerce, services and tourism. It is also important to stand out its manufacturing industry, mainly the foodstuff, chemical, textile, leather manufacturing, tobacco, cocoa sectors and civil construction.

The investment policy for the industrial sector consolidates the Metropolitan Region as an industrial pole to produce intermediary goods, besides extending its productive structure with the implementation of an automotive complex.

Two of the State most important industrial districts are located in Salvador Metropolitan Region: Aratu's Industrial Center (CIA) and Camaçari's Petrochemical Complex. The implementation of companies in the region is facilitated by the good infrastructure of highway, air and maritime transportation, as well as modern services of electric energy, water supply, sanitation and telecommunications. Enterprises of different sectors can also count on the raw material existing in Camaçari's Petrochemical Complex.

The city is one of the most sought after (the 4th gateway for the entrance of foreign tourists in the country) and has been Recognizing that the city's intense cultural activity strengthens tourism, the government has provided great support for the arts and for the preservation of the artistic and cultural patrimony.

Tourism is an important generator of job and income for the capital city. Salvador is the main gateway to foreign tourists in the Northeast region and one of the main tourist destinations in the country, attracting more and more investments related to the entertainment and leisure sectors and consolidating itself as a national tourist center. The city offers investment opportunities in leisure hotels and in hotels destined to businessmen, as well as opportunities in nautical tourism. These opportunities in nautical tourism are due to the great potential of Bahian coast, especially in All Saint's Bay, the largest bay of Brazil, with warm and transparent waters and winds favorable for navigation all year round.

Economic Perspectives

According to data from the last Plan for Urban Development (PDDU 2004), coordinated by the Salvador's Municipal Government, it is foreseen that Salvador's economy keeps on growing.

It is also expected a certain re-concentration of economic activities in Salvador Metropolitan Region (RMS), as one of the results of new investments made in the State. An example of sector that must remain concentrated in the RMS is the chemical industry that holds 27.6% of the new resources applied in the region.

According to the PDDU, Salvador's economy must grow more than Brazilian and Bahian economy. If we take 1996 as the year-base, we can expect the Brazilian economy to grow at such a rate as to arrive close to the duplication of the product by the year 2010, while the Bahian economy is expected to growth 58%, and the municipal product approximately 65%.

Other perspectives contained in the PDDU 2004 are:
- an increase of job offers in activities related to Tourism and Entertainment, by the combination of offers in the following sectors: Handicraft and Textile Industry, Clothing and Shoes, Communication Services and Other;

- it is expected that tourist activities in Salvador will grow at an average annual rate between 2% and 4% until 2005;

- growth of job offers in at least six industrial sectors: Clothing and Shoes, Food, Furniture and Wood Products, Graphics and Handicraft; and we can still add to these the Plastic Industry and the Automotive Parts Industry;

- in the Financial Services, the job generation will concentrate in the insurance area and in brokerage firms;

- in the Public Sector, there is a possibility of job generation in at least two important areas: Public Security and Primary Education;

- Civil Construction also appears as an area with potential job generation;

- in the Service Sector, three areas may be responsible for the future expansion of Salvador's economy and create jobs: (i) Health Services, (ii) Education Services (mostly in high school education) and (iii) Business Services (companies and other organizations providing services in engineering, accounting and auditing, research and development, administration and public relations, marketing and advertising, data processing and implementation of computer systems and networks, graphic and multimedia productions).

Comércio's Revitalization

The Municipal City Hall of Salvador, in partnership with the State Government, CODEBA (State Docks Company of Bahia) and the Commercial Association, has a Comércio’s revitalization project. For more information about the project, click here.