Brasília, 9/3/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - This morning president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will have a meeting at the Palácio do Planalto with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Rodrigo de Rato.

After lunch, Lula will travel to São Paulo where he will visit a factory in Osasco and participate in the celebrations of its 60th anniversary (the factory, formerly known as Cobrasma, is now known as Flanaço and Ammsted Maxion). Minister of Labor, Ricardo Berzoini, will accompany Lula.

The president is scheduled to return to Brasilia early this evening.

Translator: Allen Bennett