The company wants to transform the country into the corporate hub for the Middle East and North Africa
RIYADH* – While negotiations are underway for the sale of 33 military transport aircraft C-390 Millennium with the Saudi government, the vice president of the Saudi Defense and Security Division Embraer for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Caetano Spuldaro Neto, said on Monday 4, that the Brazilian proposal also aims to maximize the company’s local presence in the region.
“This could include the opening of an engineering office, an aircraft completion center, an equipment production line and Embraer training centers Saudi Arabia. The entire value proposition is in line with the development of the Saudi government’s “Vision 2030”, said Spuldaro, in a lecture to entrepreneurs from both countries at the “Brazil Saudi Arabia Conference”, held by Lide at the headquarters of Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, in Riyadh.
in addition to Brazilian Air Force, Embraer has already closed the sale of C-390 units to the governments of Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and South Korea. The model intended for the transport of cargo and troops can also be used for air combat or in medical field evacuation, rescue and humanitarian assistance missions. The model is also capable of refueling other planes and helicopters during flight. According to the company, the plane can be reconfigured for other uses in just three hours.
According to Spuldaro, Saudi Arabia’s purchase of the aircraft could provide the Saudi government with operational savings of $2 billion over the next 30 years. In addition to savings on maintenance, the proposal includes compliance with the specificities required by the Saudi Arabian Air Force and a partnership with the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (Sami).
“We want to include technology transfer so that, in the long term, we can jointly develop equipment and explore markets. This value proposition for the Saudi government is available for all aircraft produced by Embraer, including executive jets,” he added. “We want to transform Saudi Arabia into an Embraer hub for the region, including the Middle East and North Africa,” Spuldaro added.
During a visit to the country in November last year, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva highlighted Embraer’s proposal directly to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman. “Since Saudi Arabia has a lot of money and needs to transport a lot of goods to many places in the world, that plane is made exactly to meet the interests and dreams of Saudi Arabia. And I want to tell you that I am very proud to be here the Embraer symbol,” the president declared at the time.
During the presidential visit, Embraer signed three agreements in Saudi Arabia, including a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and partnerships with the government, a memorandum of understanding with Sami and a memorandum of understanding with FlyNas on air taxi operations.
In early February, during the World Defense Show 2024, Saudia Technic and Embraer Serviços & Support signed a memorandum of understanding to start collaboration on maintenance and training activities. According to the company, the aim is to improve cooperation both in commercial aviation, with a focus on the E2 family of jets, and in executive aviation.
*The journalist traveled at Lide’s invitation.
Source: Terra
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