Curitiba, September 25, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The protocol for the Governors' Pro-Ethanol Coalition, which will unite 29 states for the purpose of stimulating the production of ethanol (ethyl or grain alcohol, used as fuel), in order to generate employment and exports, will be signed today. "In two or three years, the alcohol industry can produce 35 thousand new jobs in Paraná," said Anísio Tormena, president of the Paraná State Association of Alcohol and Sugar Producers (Alcopar).

The idea of the Coalition arose in Paraná at a meeting between Alcopar members and Governor Roberto Requião, in July. Among the sector's complaints was the lack of a policy in Brazil to stimulate alcohol exports. In order to try to gain foreign markets, especially in countries like Japan, China, and South Korea, the governor suggested the formation of an alliance among producer states.

Half of Parana's sugarcane crop goes for sugar production, and the rest is converted into alcohol, as much as 1.1 billion liters/year. Of this total, 1 billion are used as fuel, and 100 million are consumed by the chemical industry. (DAS)