The 14th annual Fenasucro International Sugar and Alcohol Industry Fair, and the 4th annual Agrocana Sugar Cane Agriculture Business and Technology Fair, held simultaneously in Sertaozinho, Sao Paulo, Brazil, attracted 550 exhibitors, 50 more than the previous year. Greater than 55,000 visitors attended this year多s show, an increase of over 10% from 2005. Attendees came from 22 different Brazilian states, and 35 countries increasing the trend toward an even more international audience.

The first day of the show was an exciting one for WEG team members as the Vice President of Brazil, Jose Alencar, paid a visit to WEG's booth. Invited by Gorki Dragojevic, WEG's technical advisor, Mr. Alencar learned about solutions for mills, and commented on his recent visit to WEG多s headquarters in Jaragua do Sul. "I was in Jaragua last week and was impressed with the region多s economic power and with the size of WEG多s manufacturing plants," remarked Mr. Alencar. The Vice President opened Fenasucro & Agrocana 2006 with a speech emphasizing the importance of the sugar-alcohol industry to the Brazilian economy.

WEG representatives presented the Vice President with the newest edition of WEG em Revista, a WEG publication that features a story about the supply of four dry transformers to Coteminas, a company of which the Vice President is CEO.

With a projected increase in sugar cane production of 50% over the next four years, the growing sugar-alcohol industry expects global investments of about $25 billion BRL ($11.6 billion USD) during that time frame. Estimates indicate that there are close to 100 projects for the construction of new mills and expansions planned for dozens of the 350-plus existing mills.