Brasília, April 29, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Specialists from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have begun to arrive in Brazil for the seventh review of the US$ 15 billion agreement between the Fund and the Brazilian government. The mission, headed by Charles Collyns, will remain in the country until May 7, according to information provided today by the IMF's press office.

In addition to examining the accounts of the Brazilian government and the economy in general, the specialists will meet with the government's economic team to discuss details of the pilot project to exclude some investment expenses from the calculation of the primary surplus (revenues minus expenditures, except interest payments).

This position was defended last weekend by Minister Antônio Palocci at the Fund's Spring Meeting in Washington (USA). If the project proves successful, the Brazilian government hopes to allocate more resources to the area of infrastructure.

Translator: David Silberstein