France’s Technip and its joint venture partner Odebrecht Oil & Gas have won a $1 billion contract for the charter and operation of two flexible pipeline installation vessels for Petróleo Brasileiro (Petrobras).

The contract is for a period of five years with the option to extend for a further five years. The twin vessels will be employed principally to install umbilical and flexible flowlines and risers to connect subsea wells to floating production units in waters up to over 2,500 metres deep offshore Brazil.

Bombardier Aerospace has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Morocco for the establishment of a manufacturing facility in the North African country.

Bombardier Aerospace intends to invest approximately $200 million in equipment, buildings and start-up costs over the next eight years.

Healthcare products provider Covidien has announced it is to undertake six research and development projects in Ireland, representing an investment of €25 million.

The projects will be carried out in partnership with the company’s facilities in Galway and Athlone, with the support of the Irish government’s investment promotion agency, IDA.

Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a range of product lines across three segments: medical devices, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.

Qatar Airways has placed an order with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus for 88 narrow and wide body aircraft at the Dubai Air Show.

The agreement is for 50 of Airbus’ new generation A320neo (new engine option) airplanes with a further 30 on option, together with five additional A380s super jumbos and three on option.

The five new A380s will double the number of the airline’s super jumbos already in the delivery pipeline, taking firm orders up to 10 aircraft. Deliveries are due to begin in 2013.

Smith Electric Vehicles Corp, a manufacturer of all-electric commercial vehicles, is expanding its US operations by adding a manufacturing facility in New York State, creating up to 100 new direct local jobs.

A package of city and state incentives of approximately $11 million will augment Smith's private investment.

Talisman Energy (UK) has awarded Wood Group PSN £500 million of North Sea contracts, it has been announced.

Under the terms of a new five-year contract, which includes an option to extend for a further five years, Wood Group PSN will provide operations and maintenance services on all 11 of Talisman's UK offshore assets and at the Flotta Oil Terminal on Orkney. The contract will be worth £90 million per annum and will begin today.

Boeing has announced an order from the Dubai-based Emirates Airline for 50 Boeing 777-300ERs (extended range) plus options for an additional 20 of the popular twin-aisle commercial jetliner.

Valued at $18 billion, this is the single largest commercial airplane order by dollar value in Boeing's history. It also makes 2011 the best-selling year for the 777 program, surpassing the previous record of 154 orders set in 2005.

Cargill has signed a memorandum of understanding underlining its support for cocoa farmers and the cocoa sector in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.

The company has announced it will invest $3.25 million into its farmer training programme and support activities to enable cooperatives to obtain independent UTZ and Rain Forest Alliance certification.

The initiative includes a partnership with ANADER, Côte d'Ivoire's national rural development agency, to support farmer training and the distribution of 600,000 cocoa tree seedlings to participating cooperatives.

SunPower Corp., together with NRG Energy and community leaders, have officially marked the start of construction at the 250 MW California Valley Solar Ranch.

Situated in San Luis Obispo, California, the plant is one of the first and largest central station solar power plants in the world.

The utility-scale solar project is creating 350 construction jobs, driving $315 million into the local economy and generating clean, renewable electricity to PG&E for 100,000 homes.

The first 25 MW is expected to go online in the spring of 2012.