Brasília, 10/29/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - An International Monetary Fund mission has arrived in Brasilia for the final revision of the September 2002 emergency standby loan agreement. The mission is once again led by Jorge Marquez-Ruarte and will observe the macroeconomic situation with the objective of authorizing the release of the final US$8 billion in the loan for Brazil.

Normally the IMF mission and government economists examine complaince with targets set in the agreement in the areas of inflation, primary surplus, interest rates and other monetary and fiscal measures.

According to some reports, there is a possibility that Brazil will sign a new agreement with the IMF (the present one expires at the end of this year). Minister of Finance, Antonio Palocci has said that the government has not made a decision on the matter yet. He has said that what would be most appropriate, within the framework of the present economic situation, is an insurance agreement that would guarantee Brazil support rather than a completely new agreement. (AB)