Mid East Aerospace industry must go global, says Ahmed Bin Saeed

Sheikh Ahmed's comments came as he toured the Middle East pavilion at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK, which opened today. The pavilion, which has exhibitors from the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, is the largest-ever in the initiative's two-year history and is triple the size of the launch edition which burst onto the international scene at Farnborough two years ago.

'Aerospace and the Middle East are now inextricably linked,' said HH Sheikh Ahmed. 'The region remains one of the industry's major procurers of services and equipment but is increasingly a provider of key aviation know-how and needs to demonstrate its expertise on the global stage.'

Sheikh Ahmed toured the Middle East pavilion accompanied by Virginia Kern, Chairman of pavilion organizer Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), and the name behind the Dubai Airshow.

'The aerospace industry is increasingly focusing attention on the Middle East for sales but also for joint ventures and the pavilion enables the regional industry to put forward its case as a cost-effective supplier ready to look outwards and as reliable partners for those wishing to enter the region going forward,' said Kern.

F&E is also using the pavilion to launch its sales for Dubai 2007 - the tenth international aerospace exhibition, which will be held from 11-15 November at the Airport Expo Dubai and as the launch-pad for the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) conference and exhibition which will run at the Airport Expo from January 31 to February 1 next year.

The Middle East pavilion is a not-for-profit initiative by F&E to enable the regional industry to command a greater share of voice on the global aerospace stage.

'Certainly interest in the pavilion concept is increasing year-on-year as the benefits of exhibiting are being clearly demonstrated through significant networking opportunities,' said Alison Weller, Aerospace Director, F&E.