Aviation Procurement and Finance Conference announces Boeing as platinum sponsor

The three-day conference is part of the Aviation Procurement Expo (APEX), which takes place from March 19 - 21 in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and will feature key industry experts from around the world.

This new event, organised by Streamline Marketing Group, has been commissioned by the Abu Dhabi Government and is central to its plans to establish the UAE capital as a world-class aviation hub.

James Hogan, CEO of the UAE's national airline Etihad Airways, will be keynote speaker at the conference, which focuses on procurement issues facing modern airlines. Etihad is one of the fastest growing airlines in aviation history and is playing a major role in the development of Abu Dhabi's aviation industry.

The Aviation Procurement and Finance Conference will also feature presentations by heads of procurement and finance from major airlines around the world, including British Airways and Emirates, as well as industry experts from companies such as Rolls-Royce, international management consultancy Mott MacDonald and global corporate law firm Norton Rose.

Around 200 delegates from international airlines and related industry sectors are expected to attend and topics will include financing options for fleet expansion, Islamic financing of aircraft, strategic sourcing in the aviation sector and fuel procurement.

Delegates can also take part in a final-day workshop run by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, UK, which looks at effective risk management and negotiation strategies in purchasing.

Ehab Shihabi, Boeing's international sales director responsible for Abu Dhabi and other areas in the Middle East, said: 'From the listed topics and the impressive list of experts tackling these topics we believe that the conference will provide an excellent platform to exchange insights and information related to key issues facing the civil aviation industry in the Middle East.'

Shihabi added that the Middle East is one of the world's fastest growing commercial aircraft markets with Boeing's current market outlook forecasting the total value of aircraft deliveries in the region over the next 20 years to reach US$160 billion for 1,110 new aeroplanes.

Boeing representative Nadim Fattaleh, who is Director of the Middle East and Africa Region, Aircraft Financial Services for Boeing Capital Corporation, will speak at the conference about the current state of aircraft finance.

APEX is designed to support the development of Abu Dhabi's three principal aviation companies, Etihad, the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC), which is responsible for operating Abu Dhabi's airports, and the Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO).

Taking place under the patronage of H.H. Dr Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Airways and GAMCO, the event will also gather nearly 70 top aviation suppliers from around the world in an exhibition and allow procurement specialists from the three organisations to view and test new products, services and technologies right on their doorstep.