Rio, January 20, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Prospects for increasing Brazilian alcohol exports, especially to Japan and the European countries, strengthened the disposition of the BNDES (National Economic and Social Development Bank) to approve a R$ 13.7 loan for a project to expand and modernize the Santa Cruz Sugar and Alcohol Company, based in the São Paulo municipality of Américo Brasiliense. The information was released yesterday (19), in this capital, by the Bank's Press Department.

The company will use the resources to increase the production of anhydrous alcohol, which should amount to 135 thousand cubic meters in this harvest season, and to renew its plantation of 13,100 hectares of sugar cane, for an estimated production of 166 thousand tons of sugar. The goal is to increase exports, giving continuity to the recently initiated process of alcohol sales to Japan. The Santa Cruz Company will also invest in the implantation of management systems and renovation of the Carolina Ometto Pavan Child Care Center, which is maintained by the company to care for 230 children from the ages of 6 months to 6 years.

The press office informed that the funds from the BNDES represent 43% of the R$ 32.2 million that will be invested by the Santa Cruz Company and that 200 new jobs will be created. (DAS)