Earnings and employment grow in SP aviation center
Valor Econômico
A statistical study made by the Cecompi (Center for Competitiveness and Innovation in the São Paulo State East Cone), on the economic situation of the 20 most important companies in the aviation sector, reveals all of them have already recovered the levels of earning registered in the pre-crisis period and at least five of them are exporting. In 2008, according to the study, the same companies earned nearly R$ 246 million (US$ 134.4 million). In 2010, the earnings got to R$ 254 million (US$ 149.4 million). The number of employees that in 2008 was 2080, already increased to 2240 last year.
"The companies have opened their eyes to the need of restructuring and getting prepared for the new opportunities that are arising, both in Brazil and in the external market", explains the Executive Manager of the Cecompi, Agliberto Chagas. The support of entities like the Apex (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency), according to Chagas, has also helped a lot in the process of internationalization of those companies. This year, according to the Executive of Cecompi, the Apex doubled the amount of funds intended for the chain of companies of the aeronautical sector, with the investment of R$ 4.8 million (US$ 2.8 million).
Chagas also says the program of development of the new Embraer KC-390 transport aircraft and the project of the new military helicopters EC-725 that Helibras and its French controller Eurocopter are designing for to the Brazilian Armed Forces, are examples of business opportunities for those companies.
Akaer, specialized in the development of aero-structures and project management for the aerospace and defense sectors, is one of the companies that are already working on the program of development of the KC-390, including in the design of the aircraft. "We are negotiating a partnership with an international company for the purpose of allowing our participation in the supply of more complex segments of the transport aircraft, working as a Brazilian integrator", reveals the Executive Officer of Akaer, César Augusto da Silva.
He says they invested R$ 1 million (US$ 588.2 thousand) in internal systems of management and another R$ 2 million (US$ 1.18 million) in software and development tools to prepare the company for new challenges. "The companies lack public policies to support the development of high technology involving risk. In the case of the KC-390, it is not our responsibility to take the risk and fund a program that belongs to the very Government", he says.