Page 39: of Marine Technology Magazine (March 2011)

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Managing Director and Administrator to open an office in Rio de Janeiro, which is responsible for all of Latin

America in both the civilian and military business sectors.

What are ECA´s main business sectors and what are the main products it brings to Brazil?

ECA is specialized in maritime and subsea technology in the civilian and military sectors. It is important to high- light that ECA is the world leader in the manufacture of subsea robots for submerged mine detection and destruc- tion. ECA also builds ROVs and AUVs and for the O&G industry. Presently we have contracts with Petrobras for subsea robots and seabed analyzing software, and with the

Brazilian Navy for a ship simulator.

All the electrical systems and the steering console on the four Scorpène submarines bought by Brazil from France are from the ECA group. The four submarines will be assembled at the new submarine base, which is being built in Rio de Janeiro. ECA is also committed to offer full technology transfer to its Brazilian clients.

What contracts to you already have for subsea robots in Brazil?

ECA already has two robots with Cenpes (Petrobras research center), but these contracts were awarded before

I came to Brazil. Now that we have incorporated our own company in Brazil, since July 2010, which is named ECA

América Latina Ltda , I am prospecting other customers, starting with French companies with whom ECA works in other countries (Total, Technip, Schlumberger, etc.) and other Petrobras’ suppliers.

How was the process to open your company in Brazil and how did you feel about the local bureaucracy?

It was very complicated and slow! You really must have very solid nerves and be very patient as the bureaucracy is extremely complicated and the incorporation process exceedingly slow. Comparatively doing business in Chile is much simpler; they are more organized and you are not faced with wrong information and lies, as some- times happens in Brazil.

From my experience in Latin America, I would have to say that Chile is the most organized and efficient country to do business with. Here in Brazil decisions are too decentralized, it gets very confusing and communication between different government institutions is bad. So you have a person saying one thing in Brasilia and another saying something else in Rio, while none of them seem to know what documents are needed. It is all very frustrat-