Brasília, 7/24/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Today president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is visiting the state of Santa Catarina. In the morning he will launch a ship, the N/T Metaltanque VI, at the Itajaí shipyard, in the company of minister of Transportation, Anderson Adauto.

In the afternoon he will be in Concórdia for the opening of a seminar on family farming and a visit to a family farming produce fair. The ministers of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, and Agrarian Development, Miguel Rossetto, will also be present at this event.

The president is scheduled to return to Brasilia this evening. (AB)