Brasília, March 17, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will travel today to Fortaleza, capital of the state of Ceará, to launch the campaign, "Develop, Northeast," sponsored by the Bank of the Northeast (BNB). About US$ 1 billion will be made available from the Constitutional Fund for Credit to the Northeast (FNE) to small, medium, and large firms, making it possible to create around a million jobs in the region.

While he is still in Ceará, President Lula will inaugurate the Dental Speciality Center in the city of Sobral. The city was chosen to kick off the National Oral Hygiene Program. (DAS)