Rio, January 13, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The president of Aracruz, Carlos Aguiar, affirmed today that the company will continue placing priority, in its strategic planning, on increasing exports, to which over 95% of its production is directed. Aguiar guaranteed that Aracruz is attuned to Lula's Administration's strategy of boosting exports.

The company president announced that, during the 2003 and 2004 fiscal years, the company will invest US$ 113 million and US$ 55 million, respectively.

Resources invested by the firm added up to US$ 138 million in 2000 and rose to US$ 409 million in 2001, as a result of investments in Factory C, which began operations in May, 2002, attaining in a record time of six months, an annual production of 700 thousand tons.

In 2002 Aracruz's investments came to US$ 245 million. (DAS)