The Gyeongnam Export Support Corps for Aero-parts (GESCA) made its international debut at the Singapore Airshow last week, as it steps into the role of marketing the production capabilities in South Korea's southern Gyeongnam province.
GESCA director KT Chun said about 85% of South Korea's aerospace industry is located in Gyeongnam, but that a number of the smaller suppliers in the region find it challenging to market themselves internationally. GESCA's role will be to help match foreign airframers with smaller South Korean suppliers.
Chun is one of the pioneers in South Korea's indigenous aerospace sector. He played a major role in the development of Korea Aerospace Industries' (KAI) KT-1 basic trainer aircraft.
The most prominent firm in Gyeongnam province is KAI, which has a large production facility at Sacheon. Aside from producing indigenous aircraft, such as the T-50 advanced jet trainer and its variants, the Surion helicopter and the KT-1, the company also produces sub assemblies for companies such as Boeing and Airbus.
Chun said about 70 aerospace companies are located in Gyeongnam, many of them providing components for KAI.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
