Transcript
WELCOME TO BELO HORIZONTE!
It’s called Belo Horizonte. And those who baptized the city with the name beautiful horizon, were right on mark.
The capital of the state of Minas Gerais – situated in the heart of the South American continent – is one of the region’s most beautiful and well-planned cities.
Its not in vain the United Nations selected it as the city with the highest quality of life in all of Latin America.
“Beagá” as it is affectionately known, is a magnificent mix of vibrant economic activity – with its mining, metal and biotechnology industries – and exuberant cultural activity – with its universities, Palacio das Artes and numerous museums.
It’s no surprise that this cosmopolitan city of 2.5 million inhabitants – the third most populous in Brazil – was chosen this year as the host for the Inter-American Development Bank’s Annual Governor’s Meeting, from April 3 through April 5.
Soundbite
Luis Alberto Moreno
President
Inter-American Development Bank
Our governors’ meetings are the most important gatherings of our institution, for the directives, recommendations and counsel that are there derived. And in this occasion, nothing is more fortunate or fitting than the opportunity to experience the proverbial hospitality and organizational capacity of our Brazilian hosts, to whom we are most grateful, on behalf of the IDB and the thousands of people from our 47 member countries who will be joining us at this event.
Brazil and the IDB share a unique relationship. Beyond having been one of the Bank’s founding members, Brazil was also the country that gave birth to the idea of creating a regional development bank.
Brazil, together with Argentina, is the largest borrowing member country in the IDB, and has 10.75% of its capital and vote power.
In the Bank’s 47-year history, Brazil has received 324 loans, summing more than 28 billion dollars – and making it the region’s largest borrower.
Brazil in general, and Minas Gerais in particular, continue to be important investment hubs for the IDB.
At the end of 2005, the Bank’s active portfolio in Brazil comprised a total 9.6 billion dollars.
The end of 2004 marked a milestone, with the approval of a 3-billion dollar line of conditional credit to the Brazilian Development Bank, to foment micro, small and medium-sized companies.
The IDB also approved a 1-billion dollar loan for the expansion and consolidation of social protection, via the Bolsa Familia program, the country’s largest poverty-reduction initiative.
Minas Gerais is the country’s third largest economy and has enormous growth potential.
In 2005, its industry’s growth surpassed national growth. It was the state that generated the most industrial jobs – and the second state in overall production increase.
The state’s exports also beat historical records, reaching 13.5 billion dollars – a 35% increase from the year before.
The IDB currently has several projects in Minas Gerais. It is financing 6 operations in the transportation sector, totaling 530 million dollars.
This tight cooperation has given rise to an affectionate spirit of understanding between the Bank and our Brazilian brothers and sisters.
Soundbite
Aécio Neves
Governor
State of Minas Gerais
It's an honor for us, the people of Minas, to host such representative delegations from all around the world.
I am confident you'll enjoy our State's traditional hospitality and have positive discussions that will lead to good business.
I hope your moments with us are filled with happiness, camaraderie and satisfying results, in the important meeting that begins here today.
Beyond it’s friendly climate, tourist attractions abound in Minas Gerais and it’s capital Belo Horizonte.
The state houses Brazil’s largest inheritance of architecture and art from the colonial period.
In Minas Gerais, visitors have the opportunity to see the grouping of the country’s most important historical cities, with houses, plazas and streets that show the splendor of colonial Brazil and reveals art from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
Minas Gerais’ nature is yet another spectacle to be seen. Its mountains, rivers, lakes, caverns, hydro mineral ranches and wildlife parks...are the ideal scenery for ecotourism and adventure sports.
Soundbite
Fernando Pimentel
Mayor
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is happy to be the host of the IDB’s Annual Governor’s Meeting. Our city is young, hospitable, has favorable climate and a rich cultural life. Take your free moments to get to know our parks, our museums, our bars and the culinary flavor of our city. Welcome. Make yourselves at home.
In Belo Horizonte, the hot-spot known as Pampulha is an excellent starting point to get to know the city.
It’s architectural conglomeration, built on the margins of an artificial lake, includes the San Francis of Assis church, the Museum of Art and the Casa do Baile.
Among Pampulha’s lush vegetation, rises the Mineirao stadium as well as gardens, sculptures and zoo.
The city’s cultural focus point par excellence is the Palacio das Artes, the masterpiece designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer. It has 4 galleries and an auditorium that seats 16-hundred.
The Annual meeting’s inaugural session will take place in the Palace – while the meeting’s daily activities will occur at Expominas, the city’s convention center.
And to satiate the appetite all this may generate, Belo Horizonte has one of the country’s most renowned culinary traditions – that includes the famous cheese bread called pao de queijo, the chicken with pardo sauce and the feijao tropeiro – among others.
To enjoy it’s culinary tradition, there are more than 10-thousand bars and restaurants in Beaga, along with an infinity of discos and nightclubs.
But the real attraction in Belo Horizonte is its people, its streets and its way of life - that has contagious enthusiasm. The wait to get here was long.
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