Brasília, May 13, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Industrial and technological policy is a Brazilian government priority this year, but the changes should also be effectuated by state and municipal governments and society. In a speech yesterday (12) at the Federation of Industries of Brasília (Fibra), the Minister of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, proposed a digital inclusion community work project, enlisting the support of Federations of Industry in every Brazilian state, to create job opportunities.

Regarding the impact of the increase in international petroleum prices, Furlan said that there will be little repercussion in Brazil, because the country's dependence on foreign petroleum is small. "Brazil is also an exporter of petroleum derivatives and is investing more and more on biomass energy." Nevertheless, he observed that the increase in the price of petroleum worries Brazil.

In the Minister's opinion, an increase in interest rates in the United States is linked to the heating up of the American economy and can represent positive elements for Brazil.

In his talk to the entrepreneurs, Furlan reconfirmed that the government's economic growth target for this year exceeds 3.5%. According to the Minister, half of this index will be derived from exports, which are estimated to reach US$ 82 billion this year, and the other half will come from the domestic market. "Brazil is growing, and for this reason, it is necessary to establish coordinated moves to reduce interest rates and generate jobs," he added.

Translator: David Silberstein