Brazil planning new economic strategy

BRASILIA, Brazil, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Brazilian leaders are preparing a new economic strategy amid a financial slowdown for the coming year, Brazil's president said Monday.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the new plan for stimulating growth in South America's largest economy will be ready by Jan. 20, Agencia Estado reported online.

Da Silva did not give specifics about the upcoming plan, though he said the government would help the country skirt the worst effects of the global economic crisis.

Brazil's economy is forecast to grow a conservative 2.4 percent in 2009 as opposed to this year's growth, estimated at 5 percent.