Brazil launched a massive plan to auction off highways, ports and utilities in an attempt to raise government revenue and bolster infrastructure investment.

The move comes a day after it signalled it would sell a controlling stake in Eletrobras, Latin America’s biggest electricity generator. The long list has 57 assets, including port terminals, energy transmission lines, major highways and São Paulo’s city airport, Congonhas, according to Financial Times. Officials also intend to auction off the minority stakes that government-owned airport operator Infraero holds in Brasília, São Paulo’s Guarulhos, and Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão.

As part of a sweeping privatisation effort, finance minister Henrique Meirelles also said the government may auction off the lottery unit of state-run bank Caixa Econômica Federal. Michel Temer, the pro-business president, has been battling to shift economic policy away from the dirigiste policies of his leftist predecessors.

Although the country is seen as emerging from its worst recession in history, Mr Temer is wrestling with a corruption scandal that has impeded support for austerity measures amid budget deficits that stand at over 9 per cent of gross domestic product. Earlier this month, the government loosened its budget targets.