A failure to proceed with the development could lead to significant job losses and possibly contribute to emigration;[1] the Israeli State Comptroller argued the resulting unemployment was negligible.[16] Arens was keen to promote potential partnerships and technology exchanges in regards to the Lavi.[17] Perhaps optimistically, IAI had projected export sales of the Lavi to be as many as 407 units to customers including South Africa, Chile, Taiwan, and Argentina; there were reports of significant South African interest and involvement during the early development of the Lavi.[8] In later development, however, Israel had given the U.S. explicit guarantees that the Lavi would not be made available to export.[18]