US based General Electric (GE) Wednesday announced it is to spend $500 million in Brazil for the expansion of its operations. In separate announcements regarding its investment plans, GE said it is planning multi-million dollar undertakings in Brazil and China, to be invested in projects in clean energy, electric transportation and smart grid development.

The $500 million to be invested in Brazil will mainly be targeted at expanding its operations and accelerating technology partnerships with foremost Brazilian firms across various industries. $100 million will go into the Brazil Global Research Center, a new research facility to be situated on the Ilha do Bom Jesus peninsula. The facility, when fully operational is expected to create employment for 200 researchers and engineers. It is GE’s newest multi-disciplinary Research and Development Center in the country.

The Brazil Global Research Center will focus its work on advanced technologies for the oil & gas, renewable energy, mining, rail and aviation industries. Other than the Global Research Center, GE plans to invest the additional $400 million over the next three years in technology, training, new product development, new plant and equipment and human capital.

Of the $400 million, $200 million will go into a new wind turbine and aeroderivative product developments and increased plant capacity for GE’s Energy and Oil & Gas business. The amount is as well meant for capacity expansions and new production facilities for GE’s Healthcare and Transportation, businesses both in Contagem, Minas Gerais; GE Aviation in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro State and GE’s Lighting businesses in a yet to be determined location, adding up to $200 million

About $50 million is for training and development and the creation of a Global Learning Center to be collocated with the new Brazil GE Global Research Center. The move is expected to result in the creation of 1,000 new GE jobs, spanning all of the company’s businesses and the development of new suppliers and partners for more localized production capabilities.

GE has had a presence in Brazil since 1919 and, today, employs more than 6,000 people in the country. The company has operations throughout the country, including São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro.

The conglomerate has also signed agreements with partners, universities and businesses from across Brazil to develop research collaborations, as well as forming agreements with the city and state of Rio de Janeiro.

11 Nov 2010.