Ceara

Ceará State represents Northeast Brazil's entrepreneurial spirit—Fortaleza, the capital (2.7 million, 4.1 million metro), has grown into a tourism, manufacturing, and services hub despite limited natural resources. Beach tourism along the state's coastline (Jericoacoara, Canoa Quebrada) attracts Brazilian and international visitors. Fortaleza's port and airport provide connectivity that enables export-oriented manufacturing.

The state's economic growth in recent decades outpaced Northeast averages, driven by textile and footwear manufacturing, renewable energy, and services. Wind and solar power installations in Ceará's interior take advantage of consistent trade winds and intense solar radiation, positioning the state for green energy leadership.

Interior Ceará experiences severe drought cycles (the sertão climate) that historically drove mass migration to São Paulo and elsewhere. Social programs and water infrastructure have reduced but not eliminated this vulnerability. Ceará demonstrates how Northeastern states can develop manufacturing and service economies beyond traditional plantation agriculture—though challenges of poverty, inequality, and climate vulnerability persist.