CTO Newsletter
News and analysis of offset and countertrade, twice a month, 24 times a year. Log in and search our archives to find the trade intelligence you need.
Our online database provides 24 months’ worth of issues. Researchers and long-term subscribers who would like to access older issues are welcome to reach out at subs@cto-offset.com.
Please note that the search bar does NOT recognise spaces. Please use _ instead. For instance, Saudi Arabia may be searched as Saudi_Arabia.
Volume 2008
Main headlines from this issue
Colombia furious with contractors who disclose multipliers
Multipliers have led to multiple problems for contractors negotiating offset commitments with Colombia. Some contractors, we are reliably informed, have exchanged information — and found that different integers have been agreed with different contractors for similar benefits...
Ukrainian offset guidelines still in development
The Ukrainian Defence Ministry views the introduction of offsets as an important step for attracting foreign investment for rearming the country’s armed forces and is developing a suitable policy, Defence Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov told a discussion group in Kiev on the use of offset transactions...
SABIC seeks expansion through barter
An Economist Intelligence Unit report states that the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), a global manufacturer and supplier of chemicals, fertilizers, plastics and metals, has in the past arranged petrochemicals-for-rice deals. The company may be open to other similar arrangements as it seeks to expand its market position in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the states of the former Soviet Union. The use of countertrade, which conforms with Islamic finance practice, is likely to increase, the report says...
BAE to set up assembly line in southwest Saudi Arabia
BAE Systems is in advanced talks with a Saudi firm about building an assembly line for 48 Eurofighter Typhoons in Saudi Arabia following the Saudi Air Force’s declared intention to purchase 72 Typhoon aircraft for at least 4.43bn pounds...
Main headlines from this issue
Slovakia airs new offset rules
Details of Slovakia’s new principles for implementing offsets were premiered at the SMi conference on Offsets in Central and Eastern Europe last month. The Slovakian government approved the new approach in December 2007...
Hungary thinks ‘Quality and group dynamics’ for the years ahead
Hungary is seriously thinking of eliminating the concept of net and gross offset. While no decision has yet been taken, Dr. Sándor Szabó, Offset Director at Hungary’s Ministry of Economy and Transport (MET), signalled that guideline changes are expected soon. Discussions have still to take place on the details...
Czech Republic rejects preoffsets and declares new objectives
The Czech Republic has not experienced much success with pre-offset activity and there is a view within the Offset Committee that these transactions should be abandoned...
Bulgaria: The role of Saitc in offset deals – and other confusing matters
The Bulgarian government has established a permanent Inter-ministerial Council of Special-Purpose Public Procurements (ICSPOA) at deputy minister level to approve offset projects and agreements...
Main headlines from this issue
EDA may see regional approach as offset solution
Regionality may form part of the European Defence Agency’s (EDA) answer to the sensitive question of whether member states should be able to continue to ask for offsets...
Poland reminds delegates of recent technical adjustments to regulations
?ukasz Kaniuka, Main Specialist in the Polish Ministry of Economy’s Department of Offset Programs, alerted conference delegates to some recent policy fine-tuning. Previously, the offset contract had to be concluded within 60 days of the foreign contractor signing the supply contract...
Polish industry would not survive without offsets
Jan Dolaniecki, Manager of the Offset Bureau for the Bumar Group told conference delegates that about 4,000 jobs have been saved as a result of Poland’s offset program, and perhaps some new jobs have been created too. What is lacking though, he said, is the commitment of obligors to provide for the development of Polish science projects through participation in joint R&D programs. Recommendations will be made to the Ministry of Economy to address this need in future amendments to the offset guidelines...
Lockheed has an easy ride – Beneficiaries reminded they will receive $6BN in benefits, not cash
Stan Ramirez, Deputy Director of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ Poland Offset Program, is accustomed to a highly critical domestic press. Ramirez reminded delegates that $6bn in offset economic benefits do not come in the form of cash. Moreover, if you divide those benefits over a ten-year period the impact of $600m a year on an economy is really not that great...
Main headlines from this issue
Canada in high spirits over dual focus of Lockheed benefits
The Canadian government’s contract with Lockheed Martin for the supply of seventeen C-130J Hercules aircraft, worth about $1.4bn, imposes on Lockheed two very different sets of obligations...
Poland: Audit team to examine F-16 offsets
Poland’s Supreme Board of Inspection (NIK) is to investigate the completion of the offset obligations connected to the purchase of F-16 fighters.
Greek equation will regulate evaluation procedure
An equation to be used for the evaluation of the best Greek Industrial Participation (GIP), Greek Added
Value (GAV), financing terms, life cycle cost, and offset benefits tendered by prime contractors has been
submitted by the Greek MoD for approval by Parliament...
Czech Republic: Patria offers to undertake Steyr’s offest pledges
Finland’s Patria is prepared both to supply armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the Czech military and to undertake the offset programmes that were part of the original contract with Steyr, said Filip Rybin, Patria’s representative in the Czech Republic...
Main headlines from this issue
Confederation of Indian industry says concerns about benefits unfounded
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has conducted a study jointly with Religare, an integrated financial services institution, on the effects of offset in India. The study is titled “Offset Policy for Enhancing Industry Participation in Defence Production – The Way Forward.”
Greece launches registry; Offset benefits restricted to affiliates
Greece has established a Defence Material Manufacturers Registry for all domestic defence manufacturers. Companies that do not register will not be eligible for sub-contracting work or for offsets...
Vietnam to promote foreign development of defence sector
The People’s Army of Vietnam will transfer its companies engaged in business activities to state-run civil agencies by 2012, Defence Minister Phung Quang Than promised. The government will then encourage and facilitate both local and foreign suppliers to participate in scientific and technical research for defence development...
Special Report: 12th report to congress onthe impact of offsets in defence trade
The US Department of Commerce’s 12th annual study of Offsets in Defence Trade finds that offset demands are increasing in all regions. Last year the study recorded a decline of 4.5 percent in comparison to 2004...
Main headlines from this issue
New Danish IC are published…then revoked
Denmark’s new industrial cooperation policy appears to be falling apart at the seams. Following a sequence of inexplicable delays and changes in the opening days of 2008, confusion reigns after the published text was revoked then republished...
Eurofighter withdraws from Danish and Norwegian fighter jet contest – cites unfair offset provision
The Eurofighter consortium has pulled out of tenders in Norway and Denmark for more than 100 fighter jets after complaining that it is “ill at ease” with changes in the procurement process...
Australia to establish new defence technology centre
Australia will establish an A$82m ($72.5m) Defence Materials Technology Centre to drive innovation in defence technology. The focus will be on four key research programs: air platforms, maritime platforms, armour applications, and propulsion systems...
India: HAL to back Boeing’s offset credit claims under $1BN MoU
Boeing and India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) have signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to bring more than $1bn of new aerospace manufacturing work to India, a Boeing company statement said. The agreement enables HAL’s use of key Boeing business and manufacturing tools...