Curitiba, 3/11/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, visited the port of Paranaguá this week. The port is located in Paraná and is the biggest exporter of grains in the country. The minister declared that the port is important to the country and will be assisted by the government.

Furlan said efforts were being made to reduce congestion and increase the flow of goods in and out of Paranaguá. The minister has been a strong defender of public-private partnerships in places like the port of Paranaguá in order to make Brazil more productive and efficient. (AB)