Brazil sees healthy current account - central bank

MIAMI, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The narrowing of Brazil's current account surplus is not raising concerns at the central bank which sees a continuation of a strong growth pattern even if there are deficits, the bank president said on Wednesday.

"We think Brazil has a very solid current account pattern and this is to continue during the next years. Even if there are temporary deficits we are seeing the pattern of export growth as healthy and a very strong current account pattern for the coming years," Henrique Meirelles, Central Bank President of Brazil told Reuters in an interview.

"It is natural that there is a decline in the current account numbers as a result of strong growth in the domestic economy and imports. But the export drive continues," he said on the sidelines of a Latin American hedge fund conference.

Brazil's current account surplus BRCURA=ECI narrowed to $471 million in September from $2.25 billion a year earlier as the trade balance shrank and foreign companies repatriated more profits overseas, the central bank reported on Oct. 22.

In his presentation to investors, Meirelles said Brazil is expected to grow 4.7 percent in 2007.