The North and Lagos regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro, known for oil exploration and tourism, face structural problems that contradict the revenues generated by oil royalties and the tourism industry. Among the main challenges are road recovery, the creation of economic incentives for new businesses that reduce dependence on oil, improvements in intermunicipal transportation and the health sector.
Campos dos Goytacazes, the largest city in inland Rio de Janeiro, has an economy linked to the oil and gas industry, as well as a traditional agro-industrial base focused on sugarcane production. Residents of the city point to rising violence and problems in the public health network as the main bottlenecks, since the municipality also attracts patients from neighboring municipalities.
São João da Barra is home to the Port of Açu, which is the largest private terminal in the country and the second largest by overall cargo volume. Despite the port's importance to the regional economy, access to the terminal faces problems, including the poor maintenance of roads that hinder the transportation of goods.
