Brasília – Despite pointing out economic issues as the main problem facing her administration this year, the Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff said this Friday (16th) that she is optimistic regarding the country’s economic performance in 2012. She bet in a growth rate of around 5% for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) next year.
“My target is 5 [%], Guido’s [Guido Mantega, minister of Finance] is 5 [%], the economic team’s is 5 [%],” said the president over breakfast with journalists at Palácio do Planalto, where the presidential cabinet is located. “My expectation is an optimistic one, you would rather it was pessimistic,” said the president.
Rousseff’s optimism regarding the economy also applies to inflation, which, according to the president’s estimate, should remain “under control” in 2012. She did not say that the index will meet the target (4.5%); rather, she admitted it may be slightly higher. “We are certain that inflation will remain under control, it will draw a soft curve,” said the president. The important thig is that inflation will be under control,” she said.
Rousseff mentioned once again that the government’s reserves enable her to claim that in spite of the crisis, the country has better conditions to overcome domestic economy issues.
“The actions we have had from the fiscal standpoint are what give us ‘breathing conditions,’ a strong maneuvering capability,” said the president of the country’s foreign exchange reserves and bank’s compulsory deposits, which now stand at 450 billion reals (US$ 346 billion), held by the Central Bank.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
