Rio, October 8, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) approved a US$ 770 million loan to make it feasible for Embraer to export 39 aircraft to Italy and the United States.

The president of the BNDES, Carlos Lessa, said that the operation was set up differently from the traditional financing format, allowing the institution to back Embraer's exports without increasing the bank's exposure to the risks offered by the aeronautical sector. He also disclosed that another US$ 300 million might still be liberated this year.

Lessa estimated that, including this last disbursement, the total of loans made available to Embraer this year to finance aircraft exports should come to around US$ 1.8 billion. (DAS)