Brasilia, March 25 — Brazil’s Vice President and Development Minister Geraldo Alckmin said expanding the country’s defence industry can stimulate growth across several strategic economic sectors. Speaking at the launch of the Defence Industrial Base (BID) Product Catalogue at the Ministry of Defence in Brasilia, Alckmin presented a list of 364 products from 154 companies intended to broaden market access, foster innovation and strengthen Brazil’s industrial base.
Alckmin argued the defence sector delivers far more than military capability, producing technological advances that spill over into healthcare, agriculture and scientific research. He described a robust defence industry as both “a life insurance policy for the nation and an engine for the New Industry Brazil.”
The remarks reinforce the government’s New Industry Brazil (NIB) strategy, which aims to revive manufacturing through innovation, sustainability and higher value creation. Within that framework, the defence sector is identified as a pillar for creating skilled jobs, tightening supply chains and boosting Brazil’s competitiveness on international markets.
Officials say the government will mobilise development banks and innovation agencies — including BNDES, Finep and Embrapii — to provide financing and incentives for research and development. Strengthening the defence industrial base, they contend, will enhance national sovereignty and act as a catalyst for broader economic transformation by linking technological innovation to sustained industrial growth.
