Brazilian President to attend coffee seminar.

The Executive Committee of the 15th International Santos Coffee Seminar scheduled to be held May 25-28 at the Casa Grande Hotel in Guaruja/SP, has invited Brazilian President, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva to attend the event at a special audience with the President in Sao Paulo. The committee was

represented by Jose Moreira da Silva, president of the Santos Commercial Association, sponsors of the event and Michael Timm, president of the Exporters Department of the Association and Coordinator of the Seminar. Joao Antonio Lian and Carlos Domingues, president and director of CECAFE, the Council of Coffee Exporters were also part of the Committee.

The Committee explained the importance of the Santos Coffee Seminars to the international and local coffee trade which have since 1972 brought together leaders of the coffee world to participate in business and social meetings.

The Committee reported that the theme of this year's Seminar was "Coffee and Sustainability," which President Lula commended as very opportune to show Brazil's international partners that Brazilian coffee culture is a sustainable and socially responsible activity that does not employ child or slave labor and preserves the environment. The President also noted the importance of the coffee agribusiness to the Brazilian economy, generating income and millions of employment.

The President stated that he hoped he would be able to attend if official commitments permitted.