Brazil economy in best shape

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RIO DE JANEIRO, June 19 (Xinhua): Brazil's economy is in its best shape since the country became a republic in 1889, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said yesterday.
In his weekly radio programme, Lula said he "had no doubt in saying that," even to pessimists or those who oppose to the government.
The Brazilian government had finally succeeded in combining economic growth with inflation control, he added.
Lula said Brazil's economic growth in the first quarter of this year, a 4.3 per cent increase year-on-year, indicated the Brazilian economy was in a "better state."
The president said he believed that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) would continue to grow in 2007, with more job opportunities, better income distribution and more exports and imports.