Londrina (PR),4/14/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in a speech on Saturday at the 43rd Exposition of Agriculture and Industry of Londrina (PR) declared that he would like to go down in history as the president who created the most jobs, and invested in health, education, economic growth and agriculture.

Lula called agriculture one of the pillars of development. He said it remains a priority of his administration. He pointed that the state-controlled Banco do Brasil had already made financing of R$13 billion available for this year's harvest, and that that amount will rise to R$15 billion before the end of the harvest. That, Lula pointed out, was an increase of 20% in funding, compared to the last harvest. Lula said that the Banco do Brasil could invest as much as R$18 billion in the sector. (AB)