Brasília, February 18, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday (17), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked the presidents of the Bank of Brazil (BB), Cássio Cassebe, the Federal Savings Bank (CEF), Jorge Mattoso, and the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES), Carlos Lessa, to give priority to investments for the implementation of projects aimed especially at the social area. Lula made this recommendation after a morning meeting with the directors of government banks in the Planalto Palace, according to Presidential spokesman André Singer.

At the meeting the presidents of the BB, CEF, and the BNDES presented the President with their plans of action for 2004, and they emphasized that their institutions will have a much larger volume of resources available for investments.

According to Singer, Lula recommended that they assign priority to projects in the areas of housing, sanitation, family farming, micro-credit, and infrastructure. He also called on them to make a serious effort on behalf of projects to generate employment.

The Minister of Finance, Antônio Palocci, Presidential chief of staff, Minister José Dirceu, and Presidential administrative chief, Minister Luiz Dulci, also participated in the meeting. (DAS)