The event was attended by the Prime Minister of Portugal, José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Souza, the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Embraer’s President & CEO, Frederico Fleury Curado, as well as government and press officials from both countries.
“We are pleased to announce new investments in Portugal, which represent another important strategic step towards improving Embraer’s productivity and competitiveness, whilst also supporting Company’s growth and its global presence,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO. “We firmly believe that these technological state-of-the art operations will represent an important contribution to the region of Évora, as well as to Portugal and to the European Union, one of our largest and most important markets, both for our supplies and aircraft sales and services.”
The selection of the city of Évora resulted from a careful evaluation of several factors, including potential access to qualified labor, logistical infrastructure and the existence of a technological center dedicated to aeronautics, as set forth in the municipal master plan. The new factories will be highly automated and use state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, coherently with the Company’s lean manufacturing initiatives. They will represent an estimated investment of € 100 million (metallic) and € 48 million (composites) over the next six years, according to their respective implementation schedules. These investment amounts were already considered in Embraer’s long term planning and do not alter any of its economical and financial guidances.
