VOA标准英语2008年-Brazil Makes High Profile Investment in US

By Steve Mort
Melbourne, Florida
23 May 2008
 

The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer, is set to build a factory in the southern U.S. state of Florida to make executive jets. The move by the world's fourth-largest aircraft manufacturer comes as the U.S. economy is in a downturn and continues to lose manufacturing jobs. However, Embraer executives say they have confidence in the future of the US economy and its aviation industry. Steve Mort reports for VOA.

Workers at Embraer's main manufacturing plant - about two hours outside of the southern Brazilian city of Sao Paolo - build planes for airlines including US Airways¹, Northwest, and Jet Blue.

Embraer is the world leader in sales of small commercial jets of up to 120 seats.

At a gathering² in Florida recently, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced Embraer will now invest an estimated $50 million,  building its first factory in the United States.  "They've got courage. You know, in order to be a leader you've got to have courage," Crist said.

Courage may explain Embraer's decision to open a US plant at a moment when the American economy faces tough times with millions of manufacturing jobs lost since 2000 - 46,000 in April alone.

Embraer's President and CEO Frederico Curado says he views the investment as a bet on America's future, "We do not see the current crisis in the United States as a long term one," he said. "We do believe in the recovery of the US economy.  I see many companies leaving the US. We just think the opposite - we think this is the right moment to invest in the US and be ready when the crisis is over."

Embraer, which will reportedly get millions of dollars in grants and tax breaks to move to Florida, will initially³ assemble executive jets at its new American plant.

The company says 60 percent of its private aircraft sales come from the United States, even as Americans tighten⁴ their belts amid rising fuel prices and the sluggish⁵ economy.

US aircraft makers⁶ report growing demand abroad -- in countries such as China and India. Overseas orders for General Dynamics⁷' Gulfstream jets surpassed sales in North America for the first time last year.

But Curado anticipates continued strong demand for his company's jets within the US market. "We have our largest consumer market here and we also have our largest supplier base in the United States. So it's a natural step for us to come closer to our customers," he said.

The new 14,000 square-meter plant will employ workers in fields ranging from flight testing to aircraft-interior design.

But despite the fanfare⁸, the boost to the US aerospace⁹ industry and manufacturing from Embraer's investment could be minimal¹⁰.

The company is expected to create 200 jobs in Florida by 2011 -- a fraction of the thousands of aerospace jobs expected to be lost in the state when the US space agency, NASA, ends its space shuttle flights in 2010.

However, Embraer's CEO calls the new manufacturing facility a "positive development" for strengthening economic ties with the United States in which last year bilateral¹¹ trade between the two nations totaled $50 billion.

1 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

4 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

5 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

6 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 dynamics   

n.力学，动力学，动力，原动力；动态

参考例句：

• In order to succeed,you must master complicated knowledge of dynamics.要取得胜利，你必须掌握很复杂的动力学知识。
• Dynamics is a discipline that cannot be mastered without extensive practice.动力学是一门不做大量习题就不能掌握的学科。

8 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

9 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

10 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

11 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。