South Korea announced plans on Thursday to sell naval vessels to Brazil, which is looking to bolster maritime defense for offshore drilling projects.

A government official said South Korea has sent a preliminary proposal for the four-billion-dollar contract to the Brazilian Navy, which has been promoting since June a plan to purchase eleven naval vessels.
The Brazilian ambassador to Seoul asked South Korea in July to participate in the bidding.

The government recently sent an envoy to Brazil for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the defense industry.

South Korea is competing with Italy and France for the Brazilian order for the patrol vessels.