Brazilian Defence Minister Celso Amorim opened Latin America's biggest defence trade fair here Tuesday, stressing Brasilia's commitment to a strong home-grown industry. "It is very important to organise this show in Rio where major investments are made in the technological field," he said in remarks kicking off the ninth rendition of the LAAD Defence and Security expo.
Some 30,000 visitors are expected to attend the four-day, biennial event, which organisers say is bringing together domestic and foreign exhibitors from 55 countries.
Brazil sees its neighbours and other emerging nations as natural markets for its defence products and has stepped up military and industrial co-operation with them.
Joint projects include the new KC-390 military transport plane being developed by Brazil's top aircraft maker Embraer, with partners from Argentina, Chile and Colombia who also plan to buy the finished product.
Amorim said Brasilia was giving "its utmost support to its defence industry," referencing several ongoing programs for the country's navy, army and air force.
He also made a passing reference to Brazil's plan to modernise the air force's fighter jets. "We are fully aware that we have to implement it," he said tersely.
The government has yet to make a decision on awarding a multi-billion dollar contract for 36 fighter jets, which has been postponed several times due to budget cuts. The Rafale, made by French firm Dassault, is competing against US aviation giant Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet and Swedish manufacturer Saab's Gripen jet for the contract. While insisting that Brazil is a "peaceful country" and that the Latin American region "lives in peace," Amorim underscored the importance of the LAAD show, given that "we live in an imperfect world where conflicts persist." He also stressed that Brazil has a responsibility to protect its huge natural resources such as water and farm products that "could become more important than oil."
The companies present at the trade show specialise in supplying equipment, services and technology to the military, police and special forces, as well as to security services and government agencies.