Published Thursday, 14 February, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Queensland launches assault on global defence firms at Asia’s top airshow
Invest Queensland will launch a new assault on global defence firms at the Singapore Airshow later this month as part of continuing efforts to bring more big names to the State.
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said this was a fantastic opportunity for Queensland to showcase the State’s aviation and aerosopace capabilities to the world.
“The Singapore Airshow is Asia’s largest aerospace and defence event of the year and one of the top three airshows in the world,” she said.
“This year Australia is one of 34 countries participating and the show is expecting 30,000 trade visitors and 50,000 public visitors – that’s a massive market.”
Queensland will form part of Australia’s Department of Defence ‘Team Australia’ stand at this year’s event alongside the State’s leading aviation training group Aviation Australia and home grown magazine Aviation Business.
“We’ve got plenty to boast about – we’re already up there with the world’s best when it comes to education and training, simulation, maintenance and overhauling and logistics,” Ms Boyle said.
“And our researchers are continually raising the bar when it comes to the future of aviation and aerospace, leading developments in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, hypersonics and fibre composites.
“Our biggest selling point by far is the undeniable fact that we’ve already got some of the industry’s biggest names with an interest in defence firmly established here in Queensland.
“For example Boeing, Phantom Works, Raytheon, Qantas Defence, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney and Combat Armour have all made substantial investments in Queensland.
“And there was the recent announcement by Australian Aerospace, that they are going into partnership with French company Daher, an expert in composite manufacturing and a current supplier to Eurocopter.
“The partners will begin work on a multi-million dollar, high-tech aviation manufacturing facility in South-East Queensland later this year where they will manufacture fibre composite components for the Australian Defence Force’s Tiger and Troop Lift helicopters.
“The presence of major companies like these in the State has been a tremendous boost to our economy, providing opportunities for Queensland’s existing small to medium sized firms to gain access to national and global supply chains.”
Ms Boyle said the other major selling point for Queensland was the growing defence contingent in the state.
“Queensland is not just one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading aviation hubs, it’s also a growing defence hub with a significant number of Australian Defence Force units, bases and equipment stationed here,” she said.
“I anticipate our participation at the Singapore Airshow will reap exciting long-term rewards for Queensland.”
The Airshow will be held at the new Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore from February 19 to 24.
Ms Boyle said Queensland’s participation in the Singapore Airshow would build on the work of Invest Queensland at Asian Aerospace 2007 in Hong Kong late last year where discussions were held with at least 20 international companies involved in civil and commercial aviation.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
14 February 2008
Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said this was a fantastic opportunity for Queensland to showcase the State’s aviation and aerosopace capabilities to the world.
“The Singapore Airshow is Asia’s largest aerospace and defence event of the year and one of the top three airshows in the world,” she said.
“This year Australia is one of 34 countries participating and the show is expecting 30,000 trade visitors and 50,000 public visitors – that’s a massive market.”
Queensland will form part of Australia’s Department of Defence ‘Team Australia’ stand at this year’s event alongside the State’s leading aviation training group Aviation Australia and home grown magazine Aviation Business.
“We’ve got plenty to boast about – we’re already up there with the world’s best when it comes to education and training, simulation, maintenance and overhauling and logistics,” Ms Boyle said.
“And our researchers are continually raising the bar when it comes to the future of aviation and aerospace, leading developments in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, hypersonics and fibre composites.
“Our biggest selling point by far is the undeniable fact that we’ve already got some of the industry’s biggest names with an interest in defence firmly established here in Queensland.
“For example Boeing, Phantom Works, Raytheon, Qantas Defence, BAE Systems, Pratt & Whitney and Combat Armour have all made substantial investments in Queensland.
“And there was the recent announcement by Australian Aerospace, that they are going into partnership with French company Daher, an expert in composite manufacturing and a current supplier to Eurocopter.
“The partners will begin work on a multi-million dollar, high-tech aviation manufacturing facility in South-East Queensland later this year where they will manufacture fibre composite components for the Australian Defence Force’s Tiger and Troop Lift helicopters.
“The presence of major companies like these in the State has been a tremendous boost to our economy, providing opportunities for Queensland’s existing small to medium sized firms to gain access to national and global supply chains.”
Ms Boyle said the other major selling point for Queensland was the growing defence contingent in the state.
“Queensland is not just one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading aviation hubs, it’s also a growing defence hub with a significant number of Australian Defence Force units, bases and equipment stationed here,” she said.
“I anticipate our participation at the Singapore Airshow will reap exciting long-term rewards for Queensland.”
The Airshow will be held at the new Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore from February 19 to 24.
Ms Boyle said Queensland’s participation in the Singapore Airshow would build on the work of Invest Queensland at Asian Aerospace 2007 in Hong Kong late last year where discussions were held with at least 20 international companies involved in civil and commercial aviation.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 2007 or 3225 1005
14 February 2008