A pilot scheme to promote the UK’s Farnborough-based aerospace companies in the Gulf has resulted in 140 sales leads and orders worth more than $14.5 billion in only six months.
The Farnborough Aerospace Consortium’s Emirates Towers office, which is home to 10 member companies, was opened to develop and support business between the UK and the UAE. A further satellite office has now been opened in Abu Dhabi.
John Ellis, FAC’s business development director for the UAE and GCC, says: “We have initiated a lot of good business leads for our members, which more than half our companies have converted into real business. In many cases large and prestigious contracts with organisations such as Emirates, Gulf Air, Hawker Pacific and Falcon Express have been won.
“We are looking forward to the next stage of our development by opening up more space to FAC members, and to aerospace companies belonging to other regional trade associations. Our target is to have 35 companies based within our offices to ensure all aspects of the aerospace industry are covered, so providing a one-stop shop for potential customers.”
FAC member Alan Maskell, commercial director for TAC Europe, says: “The FAC Dubai Office has been an excellent opportunity for our company. We provide recruitment services and have been introduced to a number of businesses based across the Middle East including Gulf Air, Emirates as well as a number of organisations based in Oman. This is a really exciting time to be working in the United Arab Emirates and gives our business a good springboard into Asia too.”
FAC’S success, which is backed by the UK’s South East Development Association (SEDA), is being closed watched. If its success continues, the model may be rolled out further across the world and for other industries.
The Farnborough Aerospace Consortium’s Emirates Towers office, which is home to 10 member companies, was opened to develop and support business between the UK and the UAE. A further satellite office has now been opened in Abu Dhabi.
John Ellis, FAC’s business development director for the UAE and GCC, says: “We have initiated a lot of good business leads for our members, which more than half our companies have converted into real business. In many cases large and prestigious contracts with organisations such as Emirates, Gulf Air, Hawker Pacific and Falcon Express have been won.
“We are looking forward to the next stage of our development by opening up more space to FAC members, and to aerospace companies belonging to other regional trade associations. Our target is to have 35 companies based within our offices to ensure all aspects of the aerospace industry are covered, so providing a one-stop shop for potential customers.”
FAC member Alan Maskell, commercial director for TAC Europe, says: “The FAC Dubai Office has been an excellent opportunity for our company. We provide recruitment services and have been introduced to a number of businesses based across the Middle East including Gulf Air, Emirates as well as a number of organisations based in Oman. This is a really exciting time to be working in the United Arab Emirates and gives our business a good springboard into Asia too.”
FAC’S success, which is backed by the UK’s South East Development Association (SEDA), is being closed watched. If its success continues, the model may be rolled out further across the world and for other industries.
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Source: Flight Daily News
