Brasília, April 20, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Minister of Transportation, Alfredo Nascimento, sent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a plan for the recuperation of approximately 13 thousand kilometers of federal highways in the country, with an investment of US$ 685 million (R$ 2 billion). The project should be completed by April, 2005. Priority will be assigned to highways used to transport crops, according to the Ministry.

According to the Minister, the construction work should generate 50 thousand direct jobs and another 200 thousand indirect ones in the private sector.

The Minister once again called for incentives to railway transportation in Brazil.

Translator: David Silberstein