The Rio de Janeiro began to be the headquarters, permanently, this Friday, February 1th 2013, the Pan American Federation of Engineering Societies (UPADI). The Brazilian Institute of Cost Engineering (IBEC) yielded a space in its national headquarters in Rio de Janeiro (Rua Sete de Setembro, nº 43) to accommodate the new office of the institution. The inauguration of the new headquarters in IBEC had the presence of entities of engineering from member countries of UPADI. The organization that promotes the integration representatives entities of engineering from the Pan American region has 27 member countries.
Created on July 20, 1949, the last headquartes of UPADI was installed in Costa Rica between 2009 and 2012. The president of UPADI, engineer Luis René Eveline, sworn in yesterday during the first meeting of the permanent headquarters of the organization, highlighted the importance of the institution coming to Brazil. "The mission of UPADI was floating and became permanent. That makes her one institution collaborating to robust growth and organization. Moreover, the improvement of their activities enables greater interaction between member countries", said the president. The former president of UPADI, engineer Irene Campos Gomez, pointed his expectations for the new headquarters of Brazil. "This is a historic event. First of all, because it will be a permanent home and that gives solidity to UPADI. Second of all, because the 'UPADI' was founded in Rio de Janeiro by the then president of Febrae (Brazilian Federation of Engineering Associations) engineer Saturnino de Brito, in 1949. Therefore, UPADI returns to its roots." According to Irene Gómes, this transition to a permanent home is part of a Pan American organizations with support engineers, seeking greater unity and engineering contributions to society. Also was present at the inauguration of the new headquarters of UPADI, the engineer José Tadeu da Silva, president of Febrae (Brazilian Federation of Engineering Associations) and Confea (Federal Council of Engineering and Agronomy). According to him, the coming of UPADI to Brazil contributes to the enhancement of engineering in the Americas and to strengthen the identity of the institution. "An entity that every change of presidency also exchanges its headquarters, loses its identity and hinders its actions. The UPADI has everything to contribute to the country's development", said José Tadeu. Jorge Spitalnik, regional vice president of UPADI also noted the importance of the permanent headquarters of the institution. "Previously, the seat of UPADI was itinerant, it stayed where was the president. However, we feel unfair to smaller countries that were not economically capable of supporting an UPADI's office. Therefore, the decision of all representative organizations of member countries was unanimous to be permanently based in Brazil. Besides the historical significance, given the UPADI be founded here in Rio de Janeiro. Thus, all functions and decisions of UPADI are centralized in one place, allowing a global binding for the engineers from the country and engaging in professional and business relationships more active". According to the president of IBEC, engineer Paulo Roberto Vilela Day, the Institute who has been fighting for recognition of cost engineering in the country is available to UPADI. "We are willing to meet any demand of the UPADI because we believe in the importance of the institution for engineering in Brazil." Jose Chacon de Assis, vice president of IBEC, recalled that the Institute is preparing the 10th World Congress of ICEC and stressed the importance of members of the UPADI entities being participating. At the first meeting, were defined important aspects of the institution's board of directors, composed of 10 members. Also discussed was the contest for CEO of UPADI beyond the planning work of the institution in 2013.
