Compa\u00f1\u00edas del \u00e1rea de defensa de Brasil y Arabia Saudita, han firmado un Memor\u00e1ndum de Entendimiento (MoU) para la realizaci\u00f3n de proyectos conjuntos y transferencia de tecnolog\u00edas, en diversos sectores de la industria de ambos pa\u00edses. La Federaci\u00f3n de Industrias del Estado de San Pablo (FIESP) que re\u00fane a 130.000 empresas de diversos sectores, lider\u00f3 el encuentro en el que se acord\u00f3 entre otras cosas, evaluar la instalaci\u00f3n en Arabia Saudita de una planta de armas port\u00e1tiles de la brasile\u00f1a TAURUS, as\u00ed como contratos de cohetes y misiles de la empresa AVIBRAS y firmas saud\u00edes. Brasil muestra su firme decisi\u00f3n de incrementar la capacidad y versatilidad de su Base Industrial de Defensa, ganando adem\u00e1s nuevos mercados en Medio Oriente. Y para Arabia Saudita, estos acuerdos forman parte de una estrategia establecida en \u201cSaud\u00ed Vision 2030\u201d, cuyo objetivo es reducir la dependencia de ese pa\u00eds de las exportaciones de petr\u00f3leo, diversificando las \u00e1reas de inter\u00e9s e inversi\u00f3n en otros sectores.<\/p>\n
SAO PAULO \u2014 Brazilian and Saudi defense companies have signed a memorandum of understanding that could lead to joint ventures and technology-sharing agreements.<\/p>\n
The Saudi businesses involved in the potential effort are Scopa Defense and Alqahtani Holding, and the Brazilian firms are weapon manufacturer Taurus, rocket and missile maker Avibras, aircraft battery producer Ocellott, and aviation specialist Avionics Services, according to the Brazilian industry association FIESP.<\/p>\n
The signing took place last week during a bilateral investment forum attended by a Saudi delegation to Brazil led by Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih. The meeting, held in S\u00e3o Paulo by FIESP, also included the vice president of Brazil and the governor of S\u00e3o Paulo.<\/p>\n
The Saudi minister mentioned Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer in a speech during the event, but no agreement involving the company has been disclosed. The company did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
Under an agreement with Taurus, a new weapons factory could be built in Saudi Arabia following a study on the matter, the company said in a news release. The Brazilian firm already has two local arms factories and one in the United States.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe choice of Saudi Arabia is aligned with the company\u2019s expansion plan in the Middle East. We understand that the region is interested in technology transfer for the manufacturing of light weapons,\u201d Taurus said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The companies have a 12-month period to evaluate the implementation of a new plant.<\/p>\n
Scopa, which is a part of Ajlan and Bros Holding Group, made an agreement with Avibras to \u201cmanufacture and develop advanced defense equipment,\u201d according to the former, which did not disclose further information about the products and potential contract values involved.<\/p>\n
This deal could provide relief to Avibras, which has been under judicial recovery since March 2022 after it claimed to have a debt of 394.76 million reals (U.S. $80.48 million). Under this process, the court may aim to recover debts.<\/p>\n
Two other agreements involved Alqahtani Holding, per company statements. One is a joint venture with Ocellott, founded in 2015 and specializing in aeronautical batteries, radiofrequency filters and electrical surge suppressors. It\u2019s unclear what the arrangement involves.<\/p>\n
The other is with Avionics Services. The Brazilian firm provides radars and equipment for aircraft, including to Embraer for the Legacy series as well as the Phenom 100 and 300 jets. The company is currently testing a drone. Details of this agreement were also not disclosed.<\/p>\n
For Saudi Arabia, these agreements are part of a larger strategy, dubbed Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to reduce the kingdom\u2019s dependence on the oil trade through global investments in other sectors.<\/p>\n