Brasília, January 7, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is meeting today in the Planalto Palace with ten of his ministers to discuss the government's economic policy for 2004. The President wants to hear from his team what each Ministry's goals are for this year, especially with regard to economic growth and the generation of jobs.

Participating in the meeting are: Ministers Antônio Palocci (Finance), Luiz Fernando Furlan (Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade), José Dirceu (Civilian Advisory Staff), Luiz Dulci (General Secretariat), Luiz Gushiken (Social Communication), Ciro Gomes (National Integration), Celso Amorim (Foreign Relations), Guido Mantega (Planning), Roberto Rodrigues (Agriculture), and Jaques Wagner (Labor), as well as the president of the Central Bank, Henrique Meirelles, and special Presidential adviser, Clara Antis. (DAS)