Rio, 8/26/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The president of the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES - Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social), Carlos Lessa, reports that the institution's 2004 budget will be R$47 billion, compared to R$34 billion this year. Lessa declared that the budget could even be bigger, and that one of the sources for additional funds would be the Interamerican Development Bank.

Lessa also pointed out that with lower interest rates, there is a new dynamic in the area of public - private sector partnerships which points to a significant increase in the demand for financing next year. (AB)