DTN News: Embraer Breaks Ground For Its New Facility In Portugal

DTN News: Embraer Breaks Ground For Its New Facility In Portugal *Source: DTN News / Embraer

(NSI News Source Info) SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS, Brazil - July 29, 2009: Embraer broke ground, today, for a new industrial unit to be built in the city of Évora, Portugal. Participating in the event were the Prime Minister of Portugal, José Socrates, and Embraer’s President & CEO, Frederico Fleury Curado, along with the Mayor of Évora and other Portuguese Government officials. Evora is a Portuguese wine region centered around the town of Évora in the Alentejo region. The region has the second tier Indicação de Proveniencia Regulamentada (IPR) classification and may some day be promoted to Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC). The region is known for its creamy, full bodied red wines. The new 15,000-square-meter facility, scheduled for completion by the end of 2011, will be dedicated to manufacturing complex airframe structures and components in composite materials. “Today’s groundbreaking celebrates a milestone for Embraer, as it expands its global presence,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO. “This is a strategic step towards improving our Company’s productivity and competitiveness. We are honored and proud to strengthen our bonds with Portugal and, more widely, with Europe, one of our largest and most important markets.” The new composite material manufacturing facility will rely on state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, in conjunction with the Company’s lean manufacturing initiatives. In order to sustain

and further develop the competencies of its centers of excellence, Embraer has been in contact with local organizations, including potential suppliers, research centers, and universities. This facility represents an estimated total investment of € 48 million, which is fully integrated with Embraer’s long-term planning and budget, and consistent with Company’s economic and financial projections. “We are proud to celebrate this achievement for Portugal, as we progress in consolidating our aerospace cluster,” said José Socrates, Prime Minister of Portugal. “The expansion of Embraer in our country will be a big boost for the economic development of Évora and its region, and will demonstrate the competence of our workforce and the ability of our country to be involved in such a selective and demanding industry.” About Évora Évora is the capital of the Alentejo region (130 km south of Lisbon), in Portugal, and plays an important role as an agricultural and services center. It is the home of several institutions that

are highly important to the region, such as the state-run University of Évora and the district hospital. Recently, Évora has developed the aerospace sector by creating a new 877,000-square-meter

Aerospace Industrial Park, located near the municipal airfield. Embraer will be the first investor. Due to its well-preserved old town center, which is still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and a large number of monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman Temple, Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Embraer at http://www.embraer.com/ Note to Editors Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. - NYSE: ERJ; Bovespa: EMBR3) is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jets up to 120 seats, and one of Brazil’s leading exporters. Embraer’s headquarters are located in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, and it has offices, industrial operations and customer service facilities in Brazil, the United States, France, Portugal, China and Singapore. Founded in 1969, the Company designs, develops, manufactures and sells aircraft for the Commercial Aviation, Executive Aviation, and Defense segments.

The Company also provides after sales support and services to customers worldwide. On June 30, 2009, Embraer had a workforce of 17,237 employees – not counting the employees of its subsidiaries OGMA and HEAI – and its firm order backlog totaled US$ 19.8 billion.