(Representative for the mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro)
Ladies and Gentleman,
The scientific and technological development is today, the driving force of the economica growth of nations. The government of President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has science and technology in all of its aspects as one of its fundamental directives and objectives.
It is with great satisfaction that we see Rio de Janeiro integrated into the international effort of cooperation which has lead to the hosting in our city of this conference - CHEP `95 - Computing in High Energy Physics, having as its theme computing for the next millennium.
As a matter of fact, education in science and technology is one of the foundations for the modernization of our industry on a regional and national scale. But it is also the nurture of economic development. Initiatives such as the "Teleporto", the communication complex which will revitalize the economic activity of Rio de Janeiro, also reflect the solid interest of the government at the city, state and federal level in reviving Rio, recovering its natural scientific and intellectual leadership of the country.
This project, the "Teleporto", has a strategic importance for our economy and our integration in the world economy, but it is exhibiting also a collaboration which is fruitful for development, between academies, the government and the private sector. Thus, in the name of the Programa de Acões Federais no Rio de Janeiro (Program of Federal Actions in Rio de Janeiro), we welcome this conference, CHEP `95, where again, the Institutions of Learning and Research, the computation industry and governments come together, discussing their common problems for the next millennium.
I congratulate all the many people and institutions involved in making this conference happen - LAFEX/CBPF, FERMILAB, Teleporto, Network Rio, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.....
Thank you for your efforts and we hope this will be the start of many more collaborations.
