Brasília, February 17, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Germany's Minister of Finance, Hans Eichel, considers exemplary the Brazilian government's attempt to harmonize financial policy and the implementation of social reforms.

After contacts with the Brazilian Minister of Finance, Antônio Palocci, and the president of the Central Bank, Henrique Meirelles, the Minister, who is in Brazil for a series of meetings on the G-20 (the group established by emerging and wealthy countries to mitigate the effects of international crises), called on everyone, inside and outside the country, to provide the necessary support for these policies to be implemented successfully.

Eichel also acknowledged that German companies must increase their presence in Brazil, even though they are already well represented in the country. "We cannot order German businessmen to invest in Brazil, but we can encourage them to do so, and we shall do this at international gatherings," he promised.

In his view, one of the arguments to attract more German capital to Brazil is the economic policy pursued by Lula's Administration. An example is the country's economic growth, with forecasts for a 3.5% increase in the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) this year.

With respect to the strategies of the G-20, of which Germany becomes the coordinator beginning this year, the Minister said that one of the group's objectives is to define, for example, a viable code of conduct to apply in cases such as that of Argentina, with clear norms of treatment and negotiation during serious crises. (DAS)