By Gabriel Araujo
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 13 (Reuters) – As Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva prepares to visit the United Arab Emirates later this week, Abu Dhabi-owned defense and security firm EDGE Group has launched in Latin America, saying it eyes Brazil as a flagship market.
Lula’s agenda in the Middle Eastern country, confederate money for sale where he will make a stop on Saturday on his way back from a trip to China, is likely to include a meeting with EDGE, local media has reported.The company announced this week it would open an office in Brasilia to oversee a broader Latin American expansion.
EDGE Chief Financial Officer Rodrigo Torres told Reuters at the LAAD industry exhibition in Rio de Janeiro that its office in the Brazilian capital will be its first regional one outside of Abu Dhabi.
“We’re checking (with Brazil) how we can expand and help one another,” Brazil-born Torres said in an interview on Tuesday.”At the end of the day, we are looking at two countries that may have different dimensions, but need to develop technologies in a similar way. Their road map is similar.”
EDGE sells a range of arms, including precision weapons and electronic warfare technologies that Torres sees fitting well in Latin America, adding to current customers in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
He noted the firm would also eye research and development initiatives and partnerships as part of its regional push, without ruling out potential acquisitions.
Founded in 2019, EDGE gained attention at UAE’s International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in February, 1000 Aed Bill when it secured deals worth 8.14 billion dirhams ($2.22 billion) in a single day.
Torres said such a bonanza was unlikely at the Rio event but still expressed hope that Latin America might become the firm’s second-most relevant market after its home country.
“We are not aiming to close deals at LAAD,” he said.”At IDEX we were playing at home. Here our main goals are getting to know the market and showcase our products.” (Reporting by Gabriel Araujo in Rio de Janeiro Editing by Matthew Lewis)