Brasilia - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to start a four-day visit this week to the Netherlands and the Czech Republic on a tour focused on ethanol and other bio-fuels, a sector in which Brazil is a global leader.

Brazilian presidential spokesman Marcelo Baumbach said Monday that Lula will tell European leaders that bio-fuels are "a cleaner alternative that causes less harm to the environment."

Lula's official visit to the Netherlands is scheduled to start Thursday. The Brazilian president plans to visit The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam and will meet with Dutch Queen Beatrix and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

Baumbach stressed bio-fuels but noted that Lula will also seek to deepen cooperation with the Netherlands on other issues including ports and maritime transport, education, culture and water.

According to the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, the Netherlands became one of the main foreign investors in recent years in Brazil. In 2007, topped the list with direct investment of 8.1 billion dollars, some 23.6 per cent of the total received by Brazil.

Lula is set to meet with Czech President Vaclav Klaus Saturday in Prague.

Baumbach noted that the visit aims to "make the most of the Czech market's potential and of that country's strategic position in Central Europe."

Trade between Brazil and the Czech Republic totalled 335 million dollars last year, including 214 million dollars worth of imports by Brazil. (dpa)