Brasília, March 12, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - This year the Federal Savings Bank (CEF) will make available a credit line of R$ 400 million for loans geared to the development of tourism in Brazil. The credit can be obtained by firms in this sector, such as hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies, informed the CEF's national superintendent of Loans, Jorge Pedro de Lima Filho.

The decision was announced at a meeting of the National Tourism Council, yesterday (11), when representatives of the Bank presented a balance sheet of the institution's activities in the sector, since the creation of the National Tourism Plan by the federal government, last April. The balance of almost a year was the allocation of R$ 110 million in loans by the Bank, mainly benefitting micro and small firms. (DAS)