Brasília, March 31, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva guaranteed, yesterday (30), that the development of good projects in the country will not suffer from lack of funds. During a ceremony in the Planalto Palace to launch the Incentive Program for Alternative Sources of Electric Energy (Proinfa), Lula said that the government is willing to negotiate with entrepreneurs to materialize the implantation of projects that will promote the country's development. Lula guaranteed that the Brazilian economy is ready to develop.

After signing the decree that created the Proinfa, Lula said that the program "is the most vivid demonstration that that government will take whatever steps are necessary for Brazil to have sustainable development."

The Proinfa will be developed through a partnership between the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment. The program intends to diversify the Brazilian energy matrix by encouraging the production of wind energy, biomass energy, and energy produced by small hydroelectric plants. It is estimated that, by 2006, 150 thousand direct and indirect jobs will be created, and US$ 2.95 billion (R$ 8.6 billion) will be invested.

The creation of an efficient energy matriz is, according to the President, basic to Brazilian growth.

Translator: David Silberstein