Brasília, November 19, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - This week the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade will promote a foreign trade meeting for the furniture sector. Data shows that the sector has increased exports (last year's total was US$354 million, and so far this year they are US$386 million). "I see the furniture sector as an area with one of the greatest export potentials. This sector of the Brazilian economy has quality raw material," said minister Sergio Amaral.

The sector has 13,500 small and medium-sized firms which employee 188,000 workers. It has grown 121% during the last 3 years. (AB)