São Paulo – Over 70 countries are sending delegations to LAAD Defence & Security, an industry fair slated for April 14th to 17th at the Rio de Janeiro’s Riocentro exhibition center. Most of these delegations comprise armed forces commanders. Participating Arabs will include the Mauritanian minister of Defense and two United Arab Emirates-based exhibiting companies, out of 700-plus enterprises showcasing their products.
According to the event’s director Sergio Jardim, major projects are underway for the Brazilian defense industry, on commissioning from the Brazilian Armed Forces. Despite the country’s convoluted economic scenario, said projects will not be halted.
“There are major ongoing projects, such as the Navy’s Prosub (for submarine development), Sisfron (for border monitoring), Helibrás manufactures helicopters for the Armed Forces, then you have the supplying of Guarani armored vehicles and Swedish fighter jets (whose purchase was announced in late 2013) and the KC-390 military transport aircraft (designed by Embraer in partnership with the Brazilian Air Force). These are important projects and they are moving forward, despite the current [economic] scenario,” Jardim asserted.
In addition to projects commissioned by the Brazilian Armed Forces, orders are expected to be placed by other countries. “This industry is highly global, there’s a lot of new technology and products for a slew of purposes. Brazil exported vehicles to the Middle East in the 70s and 80s and the Arab countries buy weaponry from Brazil. There’s no doubt in my mind that the KC-390, for instance, will play a key role. Furthermore, Brazil and the Arab countries have a history of doing business in this industry,” he said.
According to Jardim, several products can potentially be sold to Arabs, among them ammunition and non-lethal weapons. However, the fair’s director said, defense fairs are usually important for introducing new products and announcing deals already underway, but new contracts are seldom signed during events, since weapons purchases are always made by government, and therefore require tendering, which takes months.
Besides Mauritania, delegations from Egypt and Algeria already confirmed their attendance. Saudi delegates are expected to attend, but haven’t been confirmed at this time yet. The UAE are sending in both visitors and exhibitors: ammunition company CLA and software company Adasi, both of which are part of the Tawazun holding company.
Besides Arab nations, armed forces officers from countries in South, North and Central America, Europe and Asia will attend at the invitation of the Brazilian Ministry of Defense. Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, South Africa, Honduras, Zambia, Canada, Mexico and United States are some of the countries expected to participate. Over 45 exhibitors are non-Brazilian.
LAAD Defence & Security
April 14th to 16th, 10 am to 6 pm
April 17th, 10 am to 5 pm
Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro, state of Rio de Janeiro
Additional information: http://www.laadexpo.com.br/2015/
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
