Manaus, June 2, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Minister of Planning, Guido Mantega, said that, beginning next year, the government will have a greater surplus, with lower interest rates and higher growth, which will guarantee the implantation of a large part of the projects to which society assigns priority. Mantega and the Secretary-General of the Presidency, Minister Luiz Dulci, participated, in the capital of Amazonas, in the opening of discussions to orient the 2004/2007 Pluriannual Plan (PPA). The PPA determines government guidelines for investments in the country and will be submitted to the National Congress at the end of August.

For the first time, the PPA is being prepared in conjunction with society, and, for this purpose, there will be discussions in the 26 states and the Federal District.

Mantega considers that this year will be the most difficult for the government, due to the "difficult inheritance" it received, but he affirmed that the Pluriannual Plan will contribute to the rationalization of the projects that are essential to the country's development. (DAS)