exemplo echo no build.xml

echoant

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<project name="compilar" default="empacotar" basedir=".">
	
	<property name="build.dir" value="alguma pasta dentro do projeto" />

	<target name="init">
		<echo message="Initilzando a construção do projeto"  />
		<echo message="${build.dir}"/>
	</target>

	<target name="compilar" depends="init">
		<echo message="compilando as classes" />
	</target>

	<target name="empacotar" depends="compilar">
		<echo message="empacotando as classes" />
	</target>

	<target name="limpar">
		<echo message="Limpando arquivos" />
	</target>

</project>