Brasília, November 19, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Economic stability made the country competitive and is making it possible for exports to increase, including this year, despite the stagnation in world trade. This assessment was made today by the minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Sérgio Amaral, at the formal ceremony to open the Parliamentary Summit on Continental Integration, in the Chamber of Deputies. The summit brings together 35 presidents of Legislatures in the continent, to debate their participation in economic and political integration in the Americas, principally with regard to the possible creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

The minister underscored the growth in sales of Brazilian products to China, 35% in 2001, and India, 170%. And he defended the maintenance of an aggressive policy to conquer new markets, based on the competitiveness of Brazilian products.

The minister said that he considers fundamental the participation of the Brazilian parliament in negotiations with economic blocs. He added that a future agreement with the FTAA, for example, will have a big impact on the economy and the job market and should be carefully evaluated. "I am more at ease knowing that the Congress is keeping tabs," he pointed out. (DAS)