São Paulo – Taking place this week in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the fair of the defense and security sector Idex offers business opportunities for the Brazilian manufacturers of the sector. Some companies exhibiting in the Brazilian pavilion are attending the fair through an agreement between the Brazilian Defense and Security Industries Association (Abimde) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil). Embraer is also attending the event, but in a different stand.
Abimde’s technical director, colonel Armando Lemos told ANBA, through e-mail, that the association attends the fair, which is held every two years, since 2009. Last year, Abimde participated in another fair in the region, Milipol, in Qatar. According to Lemos, to exhibit products in these fairs is an opportunity to consolidate the presence in the region and to conquer new markets. He mentions that the country’s defense industry can become an alternative for European and North American suppliers.
“The Middle East is one of the priority markets for Brazilian companies. Several countries in the region are searching for alternative suppliers, escaping the exclusive dependency from North America and Europe”, said Lemos. He adds that Idex is the main fair in the region. The exhibition started on Sunday (22th) and end this Thursday (26th).
The stand organized by Abimde and Apex hosts the companies: Bombas Triglau, CBC, Novaer Craft, Truckvan, Forjas Taurus, BCA, Gespi, AS Avionics, Tecnobit, Glágio do Brasil, Condor, Cecil, Imer and Índios Pirotecnia. Of these ones listed, Condor (non-lethal weapons), Taurus (firearms) and CBC (cartridges) already export to the region, according to information provided by Abimde.
First time
Partner-director of the truck manufacturer Truckvan, Alcides Braga says that the company attends the event for the first time searching for clients in the Arab countries. “Truckvan’s goal is to show to the Middle East how its mobile units can provide more mobility and practicality to several projects, being in the defense and security area or in the health, services, events and professional qualification sectors”, he said. The company presents the vehicles through videos and informational materials.
In this fair, the company presents the Elevated Viewing Plataforms (POE, in the Portuguese acronym), which were used during the World Cup hosted by Brazil last year and are designated for monitoring of public areas with great concentration of people. The company also presents at Idex vehicles used as telecommunication shelters by the Brazilian army.
Military aircraft
Embraer’s branch of Defense and Security displays in the fair radars, satellites and advanced communication systems, but the mains products brought to Idex are the aircraft A-29 Supertucano, a light attack and military training turboprop, and the new military jet KC-390, which is in the testing phase. This model can be used in several different operations such as troops transportation, refueling, fire- fighting, search and rescue. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) already ordered 28 of these aircraft. According to Embraer, there are purchase intentions coming from other countries for 32 aircraft.
This is not the first participation for the Brazilian aviation industry in the event. According to Embraer, besides clients from the Middle East, Idex is visited by a lot of buyers from North Africa. In a statement released by the company, the CEO of Embraer Defense and Security, Jackson Schneider says that it offers “tailored solutions” for every client in the region.
*Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
