São Paulo – Five companies based in the United Arab Emirates are participating in the 2013 Laad Defense & Security, Brazil’s leading defence sector fair, which will continue until April 12th in Rio de Janeiro. “This is the first time that the Emirates take part in the fair with a national pavilion,” says fair director Sérgio Jardim.
“One such company is Tawazun, which is a very large enterprise,” says the executive. Tawazun Holding comprises over 14 defence companies and makes items such as weapons, tanks and other military vehicles.
The other Emirati exhibitors are EAIG – Advanced Investments Group, a supplier of defence aircraft parts and services; Sofia Trading, which sells various security equipment; AI Systems, for custom technology and security services; and the organizers of the IDEX- International Defence Exhibition and Conference, a defence fair in Abu Dhabi.
Jardim says 70% of the 680 exhibiting companies at the fair are foreign. “Our fair is international and the defence industry is varied,” he says. According to him, in Brazil there are two niches for which to sell defence products: military and public security.
“The military segment dictates what Brazil should purchase in the long term. Thus, the foreign companies bring in products that meet those needs. But they also want to enter partnerships with Brazilian companies, because Brazil requires that domestic companies receive technology,” he explains.
“Public security is a demand from the states, and foreign enterprises bring new security products to take part in the Brazilian market,” says Jardim. According to him, it is not possible to estimate how much business the fair should bring about, because sales depend on calls for tender, because they are made to government.
To the Laad director, Brazil’s defence market is being regarded as promising for those who understand the caveat that the government demands that technology be transferred to domestic companies.” “Those who just want to take orders are out,” he says.
Laad features exhibitors from more than 40 countries, among them Argentina, United States, China, United Kingdom, France, Pakistan, Austria, Canada and Germany. For additional information on the fair go to www.laadexpo.com.br .
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
