09/10/2008 11h13
Hyundai focus on Brazil goes from cars to pre-salt
Valor Econômico - 09/10/2008
The expected installation of Hyundai's vehicles plant in Brazil may be only the tip of the iceberg for great investments of the South-Korean group in the country. Biggest South Korea corporate group, with activities ranging from the production of cell phones to rig construction, the Hyundai Group decided to open an office in the country where it promises to look for business and invest strongly on the heated segment of infrastructure; Hyundai Corporation's CEO for Latin America Gi-Seob Kim explained that the already contemplated coming of Hyundai Corporation to Brazil was defined during a Brazilian mission in South Korea, lead by the Head-Minister of the Civilian Household, Dilma Roussef, last April. At that time, among other issues, the Minister dealt with the implementation of the High Velocity Train (HVT) in Brazil, a technology held by Hyundai. However, she would also have presented the Asian people the map of the Brazilian infrastructure expansion, which ended up being decisive for the opening of the office in São Paulo. In spite of not officially speaking about the matter, Kim affirmed that there are great chances of the unit being installed in the region of Picacicaba, in the interior of São Paulo, which "is being studied with attention". Kim also confirmed that Hyundai brought to Brazil a mission of Korean executives, who made "a market research" for the feasibility of the automobiles plant. Among the members of the mission there were parts' manufacturers like ABS brakes, airbags and automatic clutches that must also be installed here. "It is important to locally produce things that Brazil does not have command over yet", said Kim, referring to the fact that Brazil does not have a domestic production of those items. The biggest objective of the Korean group, according to Kim, is to expand the commercial and economic transactions between Brazil and South Korea, through the sales of infrastructure solutions, with technology transference, and local investments in enterprises with that aim. He mentioned the gas and oil, energy and transport sectors as the main objectives, although he confessed that he is keeping track of many others.
