Brasília, March 10, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday (9) afternoon, the Minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, and the mayor of São Paulo, Marta Suplicy, signed a document with the United Nations authorizing the beginning of preparations for the 11th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), which will be held in the capital of São Paulo on June 13-18. Every four years the Unctad sponsors debates on ways to stimulate economic growth, especially in the poorest countries.

This is the first time that Brazil is host to the conference. The conclusions of the debates will be part of a document to be released at the end of the meeting. In order to be included in the document, the propositions require unanimous approval by the participating countries.

Entrepreneurs, leaders of non-governmental organizations, Ministers, and representatives of the 192 member countries took part in a preparatory meeting, yesterday, in the Anhembi Convention Center, in São Paulo. At the head of the organization is Ambassador Rubens Ricúpero, who has been secretary-general of the Unctad since 1995. (DAS)