São Paulo – Brazil and the United Arab Emirates want closer ties in the security and defense industry. The desire for stronger ties in the sector was made clear on Tuesday (24) by representations of the governments and the private industry from Brazil and UAE during the Brazilian Defense Day, which took place online.
“I believe this strategic partnership is very important,” said major general pilot Ishaq Saleh Mohammed Al-Balushi, assistant undersecretary for industries of the UAE’s Defense Ministry. Al-Balushi said Brazil is key partner for the UAE. “We want to strengthen this partnership and make our dreams come true for the benefit of the two countries,” the major general said in the seminar.
The secretary of Defense Products of Brazil’s Defense Ministry, Marcos Degaut, said he wants Brazil-UAE relation in the defense industry to go beyond trade to include designing common projects, technology gains, and developing the supply chain, bringing concrete benefits for both sides. According to the secretary, Brazil-UAE relation is experience highly positive times.
Last year, Brazil exported USD 195.2 million worth in defense and security materials to the Arab countries, and 17% went to the UAE. The Arab bloc was the third destination of the industry’s exports, according to figures given by the head of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) international office in Dubai, Rafael Solimeo.
The UAE ambassador to Brazil, Saleh Al Suwaidi, said in the seminar that Brazil and his country have reached a strategic partnership after the visit of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro to the UAE last year. He pointed out a series of agreements signed by the two countries and said that one industry where Brazil-UAE bilateral relation is expected to get stronger is defense.
Brazil’s ambassador to the UAE, Fernando Igreja, also participated in the online seminar and agreed with his colleague. “The defense industry is a sector where this relation must be constantly strengthened,” he said, arguing for a cooperation path. Brazil has taken steps to reach a closer relation to the UAE in the recent years, and Brazilian defense companies are usually present in the UAE International Defense Exhibition (IDEX)
Brazilian Defense and Security Industries Association (ABIMDE) president Roberto Gallo said the Brazilian defense industry seeks out partnerships, mentioning traditional or direct investment in production plants, developing projects, and such. He presented a list of Brazilian companies interested in participating in IDEX next February. Gallo also invited the UAE to participate in the Mostra BID Brasil in August 2021 in Brazil.
The head of the Defense Product Department of Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, secretary Thiago Carneiro, said Brazil is willing to transfer technology in the industry to enhance the production in the UAE, even exporting it to third parties. In addition to other participants, he mentioned the recent visits of officials between the two countries, including Bolsonaro in 2019.
Brazil
ABCC secretary-general Tamer Mansour led the seminar, which was hosted by entity in partnership with ABIMDE. The meeting also featured the head of Middle East and North Africa operations in the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) in Dubai, Karen Jones, who presented the work of the agency to bring the two regions closer together, including supporting the Brazilian security and defense material industry in the local market. The Brazilian participation in IDEX occurs through the partnership of the Apex-Brasil and ABIMDE.
Brazilian Machinery Builders´ Association (ABIMAQ) president Arthur Almeida talked about the participation of his sector in the defense industry by supplying materials and equipment for this industry’s production.
Brazilian Association of Industries of Medical, Dental, Hospital and Laboratory Equipment (ABIMO) president Paulo Henrique Fraccaro also presented his industry. “Our industry is an important weapon in this fight against this small but great enemy that is COVID-19,” he said. Fraccaro showed the scope of the Brazilian equipment medical equipment industry, manufacturing everything from dental and orthopedic implants to defibrillators, infusion pumps, operating room equipment, mechanical ventilators, among others.
UAE
UAE Defense Companies Council chairman Anas Naser Al Otaiba also spoke. He presented the work of the council as a source of communication between companies of the industry in his country and elsewhere. The council aims at helping the local defense industry to gain a competitive edge. Edge Group Business Development director Miles Chambers talked about Edge. The group works by supplies technology solutions such as robotics, artificial intelligence and others for defense companies.
Tawazul Economic Council Economic Partnerships executive director Abdulla Saif Al Awani and Economic Relations and Partnerships manager Munira Al Hamadi presented Tawazun. The council operates fostering the creation and development of the defense industry in the UAE, having technology, innovation, and development of the human capacities as its pillars.
At the end of the seminar, the ABCC secretary-general congratulated the UAE in advance for its national date, on December 2, the country’s foundation. The closing session featured ABIMDE International and Relations Projects director Paulo Albuquerque. General Duizit Brito, head of the Trade Promotion Department of Brazil’s Defense Ministry also participated, accompanying Marcos Degaut.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
