Rio de Janeiro – The minister of Defence, Celso Amorim, informed on Tuesday (8) that the 9th edition of the International Defence and Security Fair, Laad Defence & Security, which begins on Tuesday (9) in Rio de Janeiro, should result in a series of good agreements and projects for Brazil.
Among the news, is negotiation for the sale of Embraer’s Super Tucano combat aircraft to Senegal. This is the fourth African country to buy the model. The other news is the signing of the joint project for development of a basic training aircraft with the nations in the Union of South American Nations (Unasul).
“It is still a project, but is very important, as we are thus contributing to an industrial base for defence of the whole of South America. We already have many Super Tucanos operating in South America, among them other aircraft. We have joint contracts for patrol vessels with Peru and Colombia,” he said.
Amorim said that he is going to meet with at least 15 ministers of defence at the fair and said that over 700 companies set up stands, 170 of them Brazilian.
“This event is taking place at an important moment in which we are seeing government measures being taken in favour of Brazilian technology, like a nuclear submarine,” said the minister.
Amorim recalled that the Defence Product Law (12.598/2012), passed last week, should also contribute to the good performance at the fair, as it provides support to domestic companies that invest in technology and Brazilian products in the defence area.
Laad is the largest fair in the sector in Latin America and, every two years, brings together Brazilian and international companies that are specialized in fostering equipment, services and technology for the Armed Forces, Police, Special Forces, as well as corporate security. This edition promises to be the largest in size and number of commercial transactions, since its establishment in 1997.
*Translated by Mark Ament
