Jimmy Lau is managing director of Singapore airport-based Experia Events, organiser of the Singapore air show - Asia's largest air show, and one of the top three aerospace and defence events in the world. He talks to Flight Daily News about the prospects for the 2012 event in the face of global economic uncertainty, and details new features on offer for next year.
What is the status of exhibitor bookings for the 2012 show? Has the show been affected by the global economic situation?
Although there is uncertainty in the global economy, Asia-Pacific is still riding on the wave of growth, as the region continues to lead in providing new opportunities in the aviation industry. Singapore - strategically positioned as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific, - plays a crucial role as an effective springboard for industry players to tap into the growing regional markets.
 |
|---|
Lau: Asia-Pacific is still riding on the wave of growth, as the region continues to lead in providing new opportunities in the aviation industry |
They include prominent companies like Boeing, EADS, Honeywell, Raytheon, Rolls-Royce, Lufthansa Technik and ST Engineering. We expect that before the event takes place next February, all available space will be taken up by more than 900 exhibitors from over 50 countries. The fiscal problems faced by Western economies do make marketing the rest of our space more challenging. We still aim to fill them by show time.
Have you seen bookings increase/decrease from any particular geographical region? If so, why?
Singapore air show 2012 has continued to receive positive responses and participation from exhibitors in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. Besides the high percentage of returning exhibitors, the air show also welcomes new players, which include AerSale, BBA Aviation, Daimler Trucks, General Dynamics European Land Systems, Russian Technology and United Aircraft, to name a few. Their support reinforces our status as a must-attend event in the aerospace and defence calendar.
Which industry sectors have increased their presence at the show?
Our exhibitors and partners acknowledge that this is a show they cannot miss, both for networking opportunities and to gain insights into the latest trends, technologies and best practices in the aviation industry. Given our solid reputation, we have been able to attract a strong showing of exhibitors from a wide range of industry sectors encompassing business aviation, defence and MRO [maintanance, repair and operations].
Singapore remains the largest MRO cluster in the Asia-Pacific region, with more than 100 companies here offering comprehensive total solution capabilities. With the development of Seletar Aerospace Park, MRO remains one of the primary activities that form the foundation of Singapore's aerospace industry. This gives us a competitive edge, which in turn attracts a large network of players, making up the complex aviation ecosystem.
Have you made any notable changes for the 2012 event, such as new services or facilities?
The team constantly strives to enhance the experience of our participants. The theme for next year's event is "building businesses", reflecting the strategic role of the Singapore air show as a networking platform that provides business opportunities and active, solution-based discourses for industry players, government and military officials, airline operators and regulators, as well as academics and thought-leaders.
In addition to the various national pavilions and exhibits, visitors have many highlights to look forward to. These include two high-level conferences - the Singapore air show aviation leadership summit (SAALS) and the Asia-Pacific security conference (APSEC) [and] two key highlights - the unmanned system showcase and land defence pavilion - which will feature innovative systems and technologies that are autonomous, smart and tailored for specific military, civil and commercial applications.
The Singapore air show 2012 will once again feature the green pavilion, which is in line with the industry's efforts to use innovative technologies and solutions to reduce carbon emissions. This pavilion will provide exhibitors with an excellent platform to showcase the latest green initiatives, share best practices and market ideas.
[The Singapore air show 2012] will also feature business forums, presented by top aerospace buyers, high-level executives from government agencies and industry leaders. These will give visitors and exhibitors the chance to understand the procurement opportunities and strategies to tap potential business prospects and joint ventures in the key markets of China, India and Southeast Asia.
Given the warm climate in Singapore, are you still urging attendees to wear business casual attire for comfort?
Due to Singapore's tropical climate, we continue to encourage our visitors to dress smart casual, so that they remain comfortable throughout the day, whether attending our conferences and business forums or touring our outdoor static display.
Have there been changes made to the format of the high-level conferences and business forums for the 2012 event?
The objective of the high-level conferences is to bring together government leaders, airline chiefs, airport operators and regulators, air navigation service providers and manufacturers for active discourse to address a wide range of pertinent challenges facing the aviation industry.
Under the theme of "driving change, overcoming challenges Together", the Singapore air show aviation leadership summit will address a wide range of issues, including building a successful and sustainable future, climate change and security challenges.
The theme for the Asia-Pacific security conference will be "the changing geopolitical landscape of the Asia Pacific", and will examine strategic issues shaping peace and security around the world. Two key topics that will be discussed at the conference are future political, economic and diplomatic challenges, as well as military modernisation - opportunities and challenges.
As mentioned earlier, another unique feature of the air show is the business forums, which will be presented by top aerospace buyers, high-level executives from government agencies and industry leaders.
Source: Flight Daily News
