JORDAN BIDS TO FIND ITS NICHE
Jordan's Prince Feisal bin Al-Hussein, the brother of King Abdullah II, believes that the country's aerospace industry can benefit from concentrating on niche markets, but says the Middle Eastern kingdom must ensure that it focuses on projects that can be economically justified.
The country's relatively young aerospace sector includes firms such as Jordan Aerospace Industries, which develops light aircraft, and the civil trade has been complemented by the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB), established eight years ago to assist the state to create a sustainable defence industry base.
Prince Feisal says: "Obviously the general health and status of the aerospace industry globally has a bearing on the fledgling aerospace industry in Jordan. But I think Jordan can develop very successfully, particularly in market niches - it's a question of balancing reality against ambition."
He says the Jordanian civil sector is "bringing pressure" on the military, notably in recruitment demand, and says "partnership" between the two areas is necessary. "We have very skilled, talented people. It's a question of feeding enough of those people to support programmes on the civil side and the military," he says. "Making sure we have the right balance so no sector suffers from lack of forethought from the other side."
KADDB has coupled with foreign technological specialists to form a string of joint ventures producing a range of defence equipment. Aeronautical activities include Seabird Aviation Jordan, which manufactures the Seeker observation aircraft, and Jordan Advanced Remote Systems, which has pursued development of unmanned air vehicles.
"Jordan has a role, not just locally, but regionally," says Prince Feisal. "We think we're looking at market niches where we can provide value for money, not at building up aerospace for the sake of it."
He says exploration of niches will allow Jordan to adopt a "measured approach", and help to stabilise it against the cyclic nature of the aerospace industry.
Prince Feisal also backs the kingdom's privatisation programme, stating: "It's important for one single reason. We want to be realistic in terms of what the sector can deliver: putting emphasis on what makes commercial and economic sense. I think it shows we're moving in the right direction."
Source: Flight International
