Rousseff asks for unity and says crisis is moment for building bridges
Dilma Rousseff
President Dilma Rousseff asked again Wednesday (Oct. 14) for unity to overcome the crisis and to help Brazil achieve growth again. During her address at the inauguration of a laboratory at Copersucar, the Sugarcane Technology Center, in Piracicaba, São Paulo state, the president stated that the country is better prepared to face difficulties than in previous crises and that this is the moment for building bridges.
"It's the moment for us to unite and make those changes, [develop] those initiatives, [conduct] those works that will actually build the bridges to lead us to another development stage," said the president during her speech beside São Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin—member of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), main opposition party—and other authorities.
Rousseff mentioned currency devaluation as an opportunity to boost exports and revive the economy. The president noted that the Brazilian trade balance went from a $4 billion deficit to a $12 billion surplus and declared she has expectations to improve these results.
According to her, changes in the foreign exchange rate will also benefit domestic market sectors, including the sugarcane ethanol. "Several sectors can and should come out ahead [in the process]. This laboratory is part of the process of building our country's future, and it helps increase the sector's competitiveness. "
Climate change
Besides the economic role of this sector, Rousseff pointed out the ethanol's role in the Brazilian strategy to reduce greenhouse gases emission. In December, during the 21st Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-21) in Paris, Brazil will present its goals to reduce 43% in emissions, comparing to levels from 2005.
Part of those goals, according to Rousseff, will be achieved by cutting emissions in the fuel matrix due to the use of sugarcane ethanol. She noted that currently "no car moves without ethanol in this country," referring to the mandatory blend of ethanol to gasoline.
"I'm sure we will make clear in December, in Paris, that the goals are not only feasible but that Brazil will show once again, without a doubt, that the world can expect our contribution on issues of renewable energy."
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Rousseff asks for unity and says crisis is moment for building bridges
