One of the world's largest aviation hubs, France, deepens its presence at Singapore Airshow 2016 to tap into the accelerated growth of Asia Pacific's aerospace and defence industry

SINGAPORE, June 16, 2015 - (Antara) - Singapore Airshow 2016 will welcome France as the Feature Country in the fifth edition of the show, scheduled to take place from 16 to 21 February 2016, at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

The Feature Country series, which made its debut at the 2014 Airshow, was developed as a permanent feature to enable the countries exhibiting within the pavilion to leverage on the Singapore Airshow as a strategic platform; lending support to businesses of the Feature Country and enabling them to tap into the opportunities in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

The French Pavilion will be located at a prominent spot within the exhibition hall. Participating exhibitors will have access to a dedicated "Deminar" area - a demonstration and seminar area for research institutes and universities to showcase their latest technologies and innovations. In addition, business meetings between the French Pavilion exhibitors and VIP delegations will also be specially facilitated.

"France is extremely proud to be named Feature Country for Singapore Airshow 2016. This is an excellent complement to France's importance on the global aviation stage. Being a Feature Country at the Singapore Airshow 2016 gives us the unique platform to bring together our latest and best aviation technologies to meet the growing appetite for innovation in the Asia Pacific aviation sector, translating into real business deals for our French companies," said Emeric D'Arcimoles, the Paris Air Show Chairman and Chairman of the International Committee of Groupement des industries francaises aeronautiques et spatiales.

The French aerospace, defence and security industry is worth 47.9 billion Euros, and specifically, out of which 30.4 billion Euros is contributed by exports. This shows that France is well-placed to leverage its Feature Country platform to bring its latest innovations to the region's top decision-makers converging at Singapore Airshow 2016.

This comes at an opportune time in the Asia Pacific aviation industry, where the commercial aerospace sector is expected to set new records for aircraft production in 2015, off the back of the accelerated replacement cycle of obsolete aircraft and growing passenger travel demand in the Asia Pacific region. Countries in the region are also increasing defence spending to equip their militaries with modern defence platforms and technologies.

Reflecting this growth is the continued acceleration of the Singapore Airshow platform, which has expanded its reach and impact with each edition. Singapore Airshow 2016 is already 80 per cent committed, with specialised spaces like the Aerospace Emerging Technologies Zone, the Training and Simulation Zone and the introduction of the Business Aviation Zone, to further spawn business development opportunities.

Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director of Experia Events, said, "France has always had a strong presence at the Singapore Airshow. The French Pavilion has always enjoyed strong support from a large cross-section of companies in the aviation sector, and there are also many other France-based companies that have a sizeable presence at the Singapore Airshow, edition after edition. These companies have always leveraged on the Singapore Airshow as a gateway to the burgeoning Asia Pacific market. With their participation as Feature Country this year, it will augment the partnership even further to generate concrete business opportunities, underscoring the importance of the Singapore Airshow for the broader regional aerospace industry."

-- Conferences and Forums --

Singapore Airshow 2016 will see the return of two strategic conferences which offer delegates the opportunity to keep themselves abreast on the latest developments in the commercial aviation and defence sectors. Business forum and Technology Seminars will also take place for delegates to engage in discussions with other stakeholders on addressing challenges and preparing for the future.

- Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS)

The Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit is the only event of its kind in the industry that brings together high-level participants from regulators, private sector, government and airline operators to address a wide range of hot topics from environment liberalisation and security challenges to salient strategic trends the region faces.

Going into its 5th edition, the upcoming Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit 2016 is a summit that focuses on the key issues affecting commercial aviation. SAALS is co-organised with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Experia Events, International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Singapore Ministry of Transport (MOT).

- Asia Pacific Security Conference (APSEC)

APSEC gathers distinguished speakers and high-level delegations from around the world to participate in discussions on shaping peace and security worldwide.
Since its inception in 2002, the conference has not only succeeded in drawing expert speakers from around the world, it has also grown to be an important event for defence officials, military personnel, academics, analysts and industry leaders globally. APSEC is co-organised with the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies and Experia Events.

- A*STAR Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum 2016

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will be hosting the Aerospace Technology Leadership Forum 2016, the fourth of its series, during the week of the Singapore Airshow 2016. The Forum will see leaders from major aerospace companies convene for an inspiring R&D-leadership forum in Singapore. Eminent speakers from leading commercial aircraft manufacturers, engine manufacturers, systems and components houses and aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies will share their insights on the challenges and directions of research and development.

- Business Forums

The Business Forums will make a return at Singapore Airshow 2016, including Aerospace Emerging Technologies Business Forum, Training & Simulation Business Forum, and Asia Business Forum.

- Technology Seminars

Technology Seminars offer exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their latest and most innovative technologies. As a key attraction of Singapore Airshow 2014, the Technology Seminars will be held in a dedicated section in the main exhibition hall. Scheduled at different time slots over the 4-days trade event, visitors will get in-depth understanding of the design and technological considerations behind the products or solutions on showcase and take advantage of the chance to exchange ideas with the presenters face-to-face.

For further details, please visit www.singaporeairshow.com.

About Singapore Airshow

Singapore Airshow is organised and managed by Experia Events and serves as a global marketplace and networking powerhouse for the world's aviation community. Singapore Airshow also features a series of high level conferences dedicated to leading players in the global aviation industry - Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS) and the Asia Pacific Security Conference (APSEC). For more information, visit: www.singaporeairshow.com.sg.

About Experia Events Pte Ltd

Experia Events specialises in organising and managing exhibitions and conferences of strategic interest, fostering industry development and thought leadership. It has built a strong portfolio in aerospace and defence with the highly successful Singapore Airshow, Asia's largest and one of the most important aerospace and defence exhibitions in the world, and IMDEX Asia, the premier international maritime defence exhibition in Asia. Its expertise also extends to the government and lifestyle sectors, through key events such as the Singapore International Water Week and World Cities Summit. With a proven track record underscoring its aspirations to stage events that influence, Experia Events aims to diversify its range of strategic events globally. For more information, visit: www.experiaevents.com.

Contact:

Marilyn Ho
Experia Events Pte Ltd
Director, Communications
Tel: +65 6595 6130
Email: marilynho@experiaevents.com

Lin Kuek
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
Tel: +65 6390 3363
Mobile: +65 9336 5080
Email: lin.kuek@hkstrategies.com

Reporter: PR Wire
Editor: PR Wire
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