Singapore: Asia's biggest airshow opened with military and commercial aircraft makers and buyers descending on the Singapore Airshow despite the world economy only beginning to recover from last year's global crisis.
Over 800 aerospace-related companies from over 40 countries are displaying their wares at the show which began yesterday, which was held for the first time last year, after the Asian Aerospace airshow shifted its venue to Hong Kong.
The show is seen as a marketplace for the world's top military and commercial jet manufacturers targeting Asia-Pacific buyers. The inaugural show in 2009 spawned total deals worth USD 13 billion.
The Society of Japan Aerospace Companies is taking part in the show for the first time, the organizer, Singapore Airshow and Events, said Japanese aerospace companies exhibiting at the show include Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation.
"People are here to see the Asia-Pacific buyers, about 70 percent of the trade visitors are Asia-Pacific buyers, that's why international companies come here," said Jimmy Lau, managing director of Singapore Airshow and Events.
The show continued to attract exhibitors and sponsors despite last year's global economic slump, with interest returning toward the end of last year in tandem with emerging signs of a recovery.
"We picked up a lot of sponsorship. At the end of November and December, we really picked up," he said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, February 03, 2010, 15:51