Brasília, March 11, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said today that there is no way that the Brazilian economy will not grow this year. According to him, the rules that have already been set in place and those that are being reviewed by the National Congress offer the assurance of this development.

At a meeting of the Economic and Social Development Council, in the Planalto Palace, the President admitted that interest rates remain high in Brazil, but he observed that they are the lowest in the last ten years.

The President said that Brazil has never been closer than to its inflation target, 5.5%, than it is now. To maintain inflation under control, the President underscored the need for seriousness on the job. (DAS)