SAO PAULO, May 6 /PRNewswire/ --

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton will participate as one of the main speakers at the Ethanol Summit 2009, to be held between June 1 and 3 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The event is organized by the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) and is one of the most important gatherings focused on biofuels in the world.

President Clinton was the first Democratic president awarded a second term in six decades. After leaving the White House, President Clinton established the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. Today, the Foundation has more than 1,400 staff and volunteers around the world working to improve lives through several initiatives, including the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, which is helping 2 million people living with HIV/AIDS access lifesaving drugs. Other initiatives -- including the Clinton Climate Initiative, the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative, and the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative -- are applying a business-oriented approach worldwide to fight climate change and develop sustainable economic growth in Africa and Latin America. As a project of the Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative brings together global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing issues.

More than 90 speakers from all continents are confirmed for the Summit, which will feature 25 panels in five theme-specific venues, three publication launches and six plenary sessions, including one produced and moderated by The Economist. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be the main speaker at the Summit's Opening Ceremony, along with Sao Paulo State Governor Jose Serra, Sao Paulo city Mayor Gilberto Kassab, and other dignitaries.

For a complete bio of former President Clinton, please visit: http://www.ethanolsummit.com.br/english/telas/palestrantes/curriculo.aspx ?id=198 (due to the length of the link, please copy the URL and paste it into your browser).

For more information about the Ethanol Summit 2009, please visit: http://www.ethanolsummit.com.br/english

ABOUT UNICA

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) represents the top producers of sugar and ethanol in the country's South-Central region, especially the state of Sao Paulo, which accounts for about 50% of the country's sugarcane harvest and 60% of total ethanol production. UNICA develops position papers, statistics and specific research in support of Brazil's sugar, ethanol and bioelectricity sectors. In 2008, Brazil produced an estimated 565 million metric tons of sugarcane, which yielded 31.3 million tons of sugar and 25.7 billion liters (6.8 billion gallons) of ethanol.

MORE INFORMATION: CDN Corporate Communications - Sao Paulo, Brazil Rosa Webster - +55-11-3643-2707 / rosa.webster@cdn.com.br Marli Romanini - +55-11-3643-2756 / marli@cdn.com.br Mariane dos Santos - +55-11-3643-2730 / mariane.santos@cdn.com.br

Rosa Webster, +55-11-3643-2707, rosa.webster@cdn.com.br, or Marli Romanini, +55-11-3643-2756, marli@cdn.com.br, or Mariane dos Santos, +55-11-3643-2730, mariane.santos@cdn.com.br, all of CDN Corporate Communications, for Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association