Brasília, 3/9/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - One of the government's priorities is to invest in mineral research and exploration, says minister of Mines and Energy, Dilma Rousseff.

According to the minister, if Brazil is to have development in mining, the government has to have an updated and modern mining department. She made her remarks at a ceremony celebrating the 70th anniversary of Brazil's National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM).

Rousseff just returned from a trip to Canada where she was told that Canadian mining interests could invest as much as US$2 billion in gold, nickel, copper and diamond operations in Brazil.

Meanwhile the DNPM announced that by next June it will inaugurate a data bank network connecting its 25 districts nationwide at a cost of R$75.7 million. (AB)