The last few decades of this century have been marked by profound changes in behavior. Economic globalization, which characterizes the end of this century, has shown us that we must change our points, look at the world with another kind of logic, and manage learning resources whose nature and complexity were, only a short time ago, unknown,

          Founded three decades ago, Estacon has feced, during 30-years trajectory, the most challenging variables one might expert in building an enterprise: increased competition, technological and cultural evolution, diversification of its activities and a change in its organization structure.

          Estacon began in 1969 as a construction company with its activities concentrated in the State of Pará. Its expansion dates most significantly from the 1980s and it now has offices in nearly all of Brazil, with activities in the most diversified areas of the construction sector. In a conscious and persistent manner, it has invested chiefly in its personnel, confident that the power and mobility of that body of intelligence is a commodity essential to the development of people and enterprises.

          Theses changes in behavior and investment in its personnel have enable the company to envision new business opportunities which vary, today, form agriculture and industry to public works concessions.

          In agriculture, we are maintaining the flow of investment in citrus crops where, presently, having taken on all the risks of a pioneer venture, we are about to finish planting a 1 million tree orchard in a region where this kind of activity has been carried out mostly by family-run businesses. investing in technology as well in the technical and managerial qualifications of each member of the team; experimenting with agricultural management adapted to climate, soil and solar radiation, we have made Citropar a landmark in the Amazon Regions´s citriculture. Its fresh fruit production is processed intirely in our plant facilities and supplies the large market of Brazil´s Northern and Northeastern regions.
         
          In the industrial sector, we continue to strengthen Artencon´s performance, an enterprise engaged in producing concrete and deep structure artifacts and in which considerable investment in expansion will be made, not to speak of modernization of  various production lines. Consequently, with enhanced productivity and efficiency, Artecon´s degree of competitiveness will enable it to become a leader in its field.

          Public works constitute Estacon´s main challenge. Presently a shareholder in a highway concession in the State of São Paulo, it is responsible for the administration of 340 km of freeway in the greater Ribeirão Preto area and will concentrate efforts in expanding its role in this part of the market to which in attributes significant strategic importance.

          Keeping pace with the changes and complexities of the present moment has been an outstanding feature of our organization, for we believe that strengthening our main activity will give us the means to continue making the initial expansion of other business activities feasible.

          To go forward into third millenium, from which were are separated by only a small fragment of time, is a new challenge which stimulates one to new evaluations, to looking back in retrospect and, at the same time, to advancing with new proposals. The impending new millenium was the topic of the last work of one of the most respected authors of our century, Italo Calvino. In "Six Proposals for the Next Millenium", Calvino summarizes qualities which, without a doubt, are not exclusive to literature alone. They may constitute values to be achieved by individuals and by enterprises: lightness, speed, precision, visibility and multiplicity.

          It is at the juncture of these elements that we shall visualize how to come face to face with the XXI Century.

                                               ^{Lutfala Bitar
                                                    President}