Brasília, 3/8/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - This week minister of Mines and Energy, Dilma Rousseff, is in Canada. The ministry has announced that that country has expressed interest in making heavy investments in prospecting, research, development and modernization projects, especially in gold, nickel, copper and diamonds. Canadian firms such as Verena Minerals, Desert Sun, Jaguar Mining and Canico say they are committed to investing in Brazil. Rousseff told the Canadians that the country is a safe investment harbor and has great mineral potential.

In 2003, investments in mining in Brazil totalled US$70 million. This year that is expected to rise to US$150 million to US$200 million.

Rousseff will participate in one of the world's most important mining events, the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada - PDAC fair where Brazil will have an exhibition. The fair has 400 expositions and will be visited by 12,000. (AB)