Brasília, June 16, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - By the end of the year, the country will resume a trajectory of growth, made possible by Federal Government's efforts to recover economic stability. This is the assessment made by Presidential Chief of Staff, Minister Luiz Dulci, who took part in the opening ceremony of the National Seminar on Labor, Employment, and Income - PPA 2004/2007.

The Minister affirmed that the debate over the Pluriannual Plan (PPA) begins with an analysis of the type of growth that Brazil needs. Dulci underlined that this is one of the objectives of the forums that will be held between now and the end of July in the 26 states and the Federal District, of thematic seminars, and of events organized by civil society itself to debate the PPA.

With respect to this week's meeting of the Central Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (Copom), the Minister said that the decision about lowering the primary interest rate (Selic), which currently stands at 26.5% per annum, is a technical one. But he added that interest rates should begin to come down this year. (DAS)