Brasília, June 4, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - On Wednesday (2), at the opening of the International Conference on Environmental Auditing, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva affirmed that Brazil at this moment is experiencing "a transition to development." Lula was referring to the speed with which his government is opening foreign markets with great potential demand, and he gave his recent trip to China as an example. "We need the same velocity and commensurate vigor in reviving our domestic investment," the President underscored.

Lula made a point of observing that his Administration can no longer delay strategic projects on account of operational "anemia" inherited from the past. "Until 2002, the Ibama (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) had only seven analysts for environmental licensing in the entire country. We hired 72 more technicians and opened a public examination to select another 150, for assignment specifically to the petroleum and hydroelectric areas," the President stated.

According to him, beginning with his Administration, a new model for the Brazilian electric sector provides investors reliable options for projects licensed beforehand in the environmental sphere. The President recalled that, in a very recent past, the situation was quite different. "The intentional enfeeblement of the public sector led to an inversion of values. The same government that authorized a concession subsequently denied an environmental license for the execution of the project, a lack of attunement that led to paralysis in various strategic areas, especially in the hydroelectric sector, which we are now reorganizing," Lula emphasized. According to the President, in his Administration there exists a social interest in making the environmental issue a collective responsibility.

At the opening of the International Conference on Environmental Auditing, which is being held in Brasília, a booklet on licensing was launched. The booklet was prepared by the Federal Accounting Tribunal (TCU), sponsor of the event. The president of the TCU, Valmir Campelo, explained that the initiative will contribute to the execution of public works consistent with environmental laws.

Reporter: Nelson Motta
Translator: David Silberstein