Brazil outlines plans to grow economy

Brazil outlines plans to grow economy President Luiz In'cio Lula da Silva of Brazil said Monday that infrastructure improvements would be a key to boosting relatively flat economic growth levels up to 5 percent by 2008.
   An Associated Press report said Lula da Silva unveiled an economic program that calls for spending around $240 billion through 2010 on new highways, seaport and airport expansions, increased power generation, and improvements in housing, water and sewer services for the poor.
   Lula da Silva said that he expects Brazil’s economy to expand 4.5 percent this year, with his economic program increasing the gross domestic product growth rate to 5 percent in 2008 and on through 2010.
   International economists have predicted Brazil's economy would growth around 3.5 percent in 2007, after a rate of 2.8 percent in 2006.