São Paulo, May 28, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Brazilian TV and movie production companies will receive incentives to export their output. An agreement signed today between the Ministry of Culture, the Export Promotion Agency (Apex), the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), and the Brazilian Association of Independent Television Producers (ABPI-TV) foresees an investment of around US$ 2.89 million (R$ 9 million) over two years for the qualification of producers and commercial promotion.

The president of the Apex, Juan Quirós, said that "the partnership adds another means for the Apex to perform its task, which is to promote Brazil's image abroad."

70 national production companies will participate in the plan. According to the president of the ABPI-TV, Marco Altberg, the funds will mostly be used to qualify producers to seek international co-producers, and to drum up business at fairs and festivals and on official missions abroad to publicize the films.

According to Quirós, Brazil will participate in the world's most important fairs for exports in this sector, such as Marseilles and Cannes, in France; New Orleans, in the United States; and Singapore, in Asia.

Through this program the ABPI-TV hopes to expand the exhibition of independent productions on foreign stations from the current annual total of 30 hours, to 40.

Reporters: Flavia Albuquerque and Leonardo Stavale
Translator: David Silberstein