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Today, the time has come when “industrial diplomacy” is moving to the fore as an effective and integral element of foreign policy. In the case of Latin American countries and relations between Russia and Brazil, this means a possibility to continue with the history of independent and sovereign development in the 21st century and to assert their right to decide their own destiny.
The Rostec State Corporation, in the capacity of Russia’s industrial ambassador, focuses on industrial interaction with the BRICS countries to create a new technological framework that would guarantee global economic security without dividing humankind into those who are “right” or those who are “wrong” using political and ideological criteria.
It is obvious, that only states demonstrating stable global competitiveness and spending a considerable share of their GDP on education and science, are capable of conducting breakthrough research. Cooperation with Russia in the high-tech sphere will help Argentina and other Latin American countries to move forward in developing local technological competencies. This will transform the very essence of relations between Russia and Latin America – “food in exchange for technology-intensive products”.
Starting from April 1, 2015, Russia has been chairing the Business Council of the BRICS group. The Russian President announced the intention to contribute to the empowerment of BRICS on the international arena. To form fully functional joint industrial alliances with countries of the region that have well-developed investment and technology exchange systems along with a maximum utilization of the prospects of mutually complimentary economies is a part of the intention to build a new global order aimed at sustainable development.
Brazil is pursuing its own interests through engaging in mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia. This, for example, has resulted in a recent signing of a Memorandum on Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation between the governments of the BRICS countries. I would like to stress that Russia, which is currently under sanctions, and, in particular, the State Corporation Rostec, continues to cooperate with all partner countries proceeding from the understanding that business associated with joint technological development fosters economic prosperity. Thus, Boeing, an American company, to whom the VSMPO-AVISMA Holding supplies up to 40% of products made from titanium, has not rejected its plans to invest approximately $27 billion in projects in Russia during the next 30 years.
In October 2014, General Electric and United Engine Corporation opened a plant for manufacturing, marketing and servicing gas turbines in Russia. The scope of Rostec contracts with ten leading European corporations alone (Daimler, Airbus Group, AgustaWestland, Renault-Nissan, Thales Group, Sagem, Rohde & Schwarz, Rolls-Royce, Pirelli and STX Europe) exceeds €16 billion and our international partners are of course interested in keeping these contracts.
Rostec is ready to lend a “technological shoulder” to organizations in Brazil and the BRICS countries to facilitate their transition to a new level of local technological platform. We are offering new opportunities related not only to the supply of high-technology products, but also to establishing joint production facilities in Brazil.
Furthermore, today we can speak about the appearance of preconditions for developing a whole range of projects among three and more countries that would incorporate technological competencies of the BRICS countries and, consequently, would strengthen the national independence of each member country of the group. At present, such new financial tools as the emerging BRICS Bank are building up the potential to develop a new technological platform of the BRICS countries.
From the point of view of possible areas of collaboration, we are talking about such high-demand ones as air traffic control, electronic government systems, port infrastructure, automobile production, radio electronics, and biopharmaceutics; as well as about cooperation in projects utilizing key technologies of Rostec's holdings operating in aviation and helicopters, medical equipment, electronic warfare systems, electronic optics, engines, turbines; and also about such products as YoutaPhone, the unique Russian Smartphone with two screens.
A sign pointing to the strengthening of the growing trade and industrial relations between Russia and Brazil is the latest delivery of MI-35M helicopters to Brazil in late 2014. It is important that both Russia and Brazil are not limiting themselves by this project. More active negotiations on these and other projects, including in the framework of the recent defense fair LAAD Defense and Security Fair 2015 will encourage Brazil to look forward to industrial intensification in the 21st century.
