MESSAGE FROM OUR EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL FOR UBRAFE’S “MAIN BUSINESS FAIRS CALENDAR IN BRAZIL – 2006 EDITION” Brasilia, May 25th 2006 Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva President of the Federative Republic of Brasil

The Brazilian Association of Trade Fairs Organizers generates admiration in the business world by continuously improving its initiatives, a trend observed all along and which does not cease growing. UBRAFE’s meetings calendar is the Brazilian portal and symbol of brightness, quality and creativity, and the reason why I congratulate its mentors.

There is no doubt that in 2004 Brazilian citizens experienced a way of living in a different country. The rigorous measures taken in 2003 by the federal government to fight inflation and macro-economical unbalances prepared the country for the growth to come in the following decade. The most accurate index to prove it showed to be true: the gross national product registered a growth of 5.2% at the end of 2004.

Today, in 2005, I feel more pleased and optimist. The above mentioned figures give us a glance on the most promising perspectives for the near future. Brazil finally gave up being “the country of the future” to show the world, instead, our extraordinary growth in several fields of activity: from sports to scientific research and from energetic solutions to a strict and differentiated industrial production. Fairs promoted and organized by UBRAFE’s affiliated members strongly reinforce these points. Today, we are proud of being Brazilians.

It is my deepest wish that the meetings held according to UBRAFE’s catalogue reach absolute success in the year to come and that the business volume generated in 2005 exceeds these results; that exhibitors continue contributing to make the national wealth grow, therefore generating jobs, income and a better living standard for Brazilian workers. This will only result in benefits to all of us.

Entrepreneurs, workers and the government, all united to attain the same goal: to rapidly increase Brazil’s growth, transforming it into the powerful and respected nation it deserves to be.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
President of the Federative Republic of Brasil