The Dow Aratu Site is located in the District of Candeias — State of Bahia. The District has a population of 80,000 inhabitants, composed in its majority of destitute people with low access to information and has in the trade their most important economics activity. Besides that, people from this community have a low quality of rendered services, low quality of public education and a strong expectation from the companies located in the District to absorb their workforce.

In spite of Dow being one of the major companies installed in the Region, as a chemical industry, works with a reduced and high-qualified workforce and cannot directly meet their expectations. Conscious of this situation, and based on the Responsible Care¨ principles and surveys made within the community, Dow has been developing community programs/projects, mainly driven in the areas of Health, Education and Environment.

Doing so, we are giving them the basic conditions to find out a job or other means of survival, thus contributing for the development of the new generations and the Sustainable Development of the region as well.

Among the main projects being developed during this period, the "Oyster Farm" — Oyster cultivation in captivity, that provides an alternative source of income for 24 families, has shown outstanding results for the Caboto's village due to its uniqueness to contemplate, among others, social-economics aspects, environmental protection and education toward citizenship. The Dow Aratu Site maintained during this year a follow-up of the Project through evaluation meetings with Cooperative members. Besides that, we have continued to support some expenditure, until they are fully prepared to go ahead on their own.

Besides, the "Computer User Guide Braile" project was developed and distributed within Brazil and abroad for blind individuals to prepare them to become Internet users. Dow was recognized as the winner of "ECO Education Award" by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM). This year was dedicated to knowledge and information update so that we are able to publish the second version of the Manual in 2004.

Our commitment and performance in EH&S is recognized by the local community, by our employees, environmental agency and within Dow. Our site is certified in ISO 14001 and our injury/illness incident rate (total workforce) is since 2000 below 0.24 which is our Corporate goal for 2005.

This is a result of our continuous investment in updating our Technology, Plant Health and in developing the skills and knowledge of our people.

Dagoberto Rodrigues
Site Leader/Latin America Operations Director
Dow Aratu Site