Rio, September 11, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The president of the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES), Carlos Lessa, said that the agreement signed on Monday (8) between the bank and the American AES Corp was endoresed by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Dilma Rousseff. "The federal government delegated the entire negotiation to the BNDES, which is the big creditor. Nevertheless, Minister Rousseff was an active interlocutor the whole time," Lessa explained.

The agreement envisions the creation of a holding company to administer the assets of the AES Corp in Brazil, as a way gradually to pay off the US$ 1.2 billion the American company owes the bank. Lessa was unable to inform the origin of the idea to create the holding company, which will be called Novacom. "The idea appeared at the negotiating table. I don't know exactly who was the father of the child," remarked Lessa, after taking part in the opening of the "South American Cooperation" seminar, sponsored by the Rio de Janeiro Commercial Association (ACRJ) and the Perseu Abramo Foundation, linked to the PT.

With respect to Argentina's decision not to pay the US$ 2.9 billion it owes the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Lessa said that trade with Brazil won't be affected. He called for investments in logistics and infrastructure to unify South America. For this to take place, it is necessary for progress to occur in reciprocal credit agreements, in order for trade to develop to its full potential. (DAS)