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Aerospace 2000 Air Show Opens In Singapore
SINGAPORE (AFP) - Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong opened an Asian air show here Monday amid upbeat prospects for the region's aerospace industry. About 900 aerospace companies from 35 countries are participating in Asian Aerospace 2000. Goh said the aerospace industry was set for annual global passenger and air cargo traffic of 5% and 6% respectively over the next decade. Some 8,900 aircraft are to be delivered within the same period. The maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses would grow in tandem, he said. In addition to hosting the world's top aerospace companies and key military and commercial trade visitors, the weeklong Asian Aerospace show features conferences on air defense and civil aviation. A conference for 600 air force chiefs and key military and defense technology officials from 60 nations was held early Monday while a conference for civil aviation director-generals in the Asia-Pacific region is slated for today. The biennial Asian Aerospace show will also be a battleground for the world's two largest aircraft manufacturers - Boeing and Airbus - which are both eyeing a bigger share of the Asian market as the region recovers from the financial crisis that erupted in mid-1997. Another highlight was a flying display program that took place yesterday that included world aerobatics champions La Patrouille de France of the French Air Force. The show featured an impressive line-up of the latest aerospace innovations from around the world, including more than 65 types of military and commercial aircraft in static and flying displays. Goh said Singapore's aerospace industry, fuelled by strong demand for aerospace components and products as well as repair and overhaul services, was forecast to triple in size by 2010 from the current $2.3 billion (US$1.35 billion).
He said Singapore could become a regional hub for the global aerospace industry and expected local companies to venture beyond support activities to new areas of design and development and manufacturing.
Newswires |
