In recent years, Navegantes' municipal budget has tripled: in 2021, the city worked with R$343 million, while this year, the number reached R$872 million. The growth, driven by its own revenue, is a direct reflection of the strengthening of the local economy. With the result, the city moved from 15th to 14th position in the ranking of the largest economies in Santa Catarina and aims to be among the top ten by 2030. This advance is also a result of the number of open companies, which has grown since 2021 and is supported by a diversified economy, with segments such as port, airport, services, logistics, civil construction and shipbuilding. For the mayor of Navegantes, Ricardo Ventura, the numbers are the result of a strategy built on legal security, reducing bureaucracy and permanent dialogue with those who invest in the city. — Since 2021, we have worked to offer investors a modern, safe and efficient environment. This includes tax reductions, simplification of legislation for opening companies and more agility in administrative processes. This entire development environment was built listening to those who undertake, those who create jobs and believe in Navegantes to invest their resources — says the mayor. Navegantes is part of the Association of Municipalities of Foz do Rio Itajaí (AMFRI) and represents, within the region, a development model based on national-scale logistics infrastructure, innovation in public management and quality of life. The city is a reference in administrative efficiency, attracting industrial investments and economic diversification, which generates growth for the entire region. Logistics infrastructure that connects Navegantes with the world One of Navegantes' biggest differences is its logistical potential, as the city has strategic connections by land, air and sea. In addition to having a national reference port, the municipality has an international airport and proximity to some of the main roads that cross Santa Catarina, BR-470 and BR-101. This combination of factors is one of the city's main assets in attracting investments. — The geographical position of Navegantes is extremely strategic for Santa Catarina. Recently, we received an important investment announcement from Portonave, in the order of R$2 billion, aimed at strengthening and expanding the port pier. This contribution represents more operational capacity, more competitiveness and, consequently, more job creation and economic development for the entire region — explains Ricardo Ventura. National example in agility to open companies A few years ago, Navegantes was cited by the Federal Accounting Council as one of the cities that takes the longest time to open a company in Brazil. Today, the municipality reversed this scenario, with a structure that registers and legalizes new businesses within eight hours. Operational agility means that Navegantes is recognized among the ten most agile municipalities in the country in this process. The turnaround was built on a method that listened to accountants who worked in the city, to help identify bottlenecks and point out the necessary changes to make the process more efficient. The result was the complete modernization of the feasibility analysis, license issuance and business regularization stages. — When public authorities offer legal security, speed and less bureaucracy, the municipality naturally starts to attract new investors. That's exactly what happened in Navegantes — highlights the mayor. For the second year in a row, Navegantes ranked first in Santa Catarina in terms of better functioning of the public sector, according to the Competitiveness Ranking of Municipalities by the Public Leadership Center (CLP). In 2026, the municipality also won the XIII Prefeitura Empreendedora de Santa Catarina Award in the Socioproductive Inclusion category, with the Qualifica e Empreende program. Innovation born within the city hall The digital transformation of Navegantes took place through internal initiatives, and one example is the SDER Panel, a platform created by employees of the Secretariat of Economic Development and Revenue. The tool has zero cost and concentrates data, indicators and public management tools in an integrated and transparent way. The project earned the municipality the Innovative Project 2026 award at the 9th Santa Catarina Congress of Digital and Smart Cities. In the field of business innovation, one of the main initiatives is the Ativa Navega program, which includes meetings with entrepreneurs, leaders, educational institutions and the community to create local governance, map actors and define priority sectors. In 2026, three meetings have already been held, with the participation of the Navigators Business Association (ACIN). — Innovation is part of the essence of our government. We understand that without innovation, we will be left behind. Today, we practically no longer use paper in internal processes. Feasibility is automated and, in most cases, no longer depends on manual analysis. This entire digital transformation process brought important gains in time savings, administrative efficiency and productivity of public servants — says Ventura. Professional qualification for a city with more than a thousand open positions Navegantes currently has more than a thousand job vacancies open, and many of them are having difficulty filling. The data reveals the strength of the local economy, and the challenge it poses to public management: preparing the workforce to occupy these positions. The city's response is the Qualifica e Empreende program, developed in partnership with Sebrae and Senai, with short and medium-term courses aimed at the real needs of the market. Among the main areas served are the services, logistics, construction and industry sectors. — We have demand in practically all sectors of the economy. Our commitment is to ensure that the city's residents have access to the necessary qualifications to fill these positions and grow professionally. We cannot live with a large number of open positions without investing in the preparation of our local workforce — says the mayor. Quality of life as a commitment Navegantes' economic growth has a counterpoint: the population's quality of life. To ensure that the community remains engaged despite exponential growth, the city promotes activities such as the Navega Movi program, which offers free sports to more than five thousand people. The community has access to pilates, yoga, outdoor gym, bike groups, fights, dance and activities for children, young people and the elderly. On weekends, the squares and the Contemplation Space host live music. In these spaces, residents can watch the sunset with music and cultural activities. In health, the City Hall has also made investments, with two new Basic Health Units and expansion of the municipal hospital. Still in terms of quality of life, a leisure infrastructure program in the neighborhoods will guarantee squares, sports courts and decentralized community areas throughout the city. — There is no point in a city growing economically without guaranteeing quality of life for its population. It is not enough to present impressive numbers in the economy if this growth is not reflected in the lives of those who live, work and build their history in the city. Our commitment is precisely to seek this balance: to make Navegantes grow in an organized, sustainable and humane way — concludes Ricardo Ventura. North Coast Paths - Navegantes