Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015 KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is set to push Malaysian aerospace industry, particularly in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) sector, to greater heights with the opening of the Kuala Lumpur International Aerospace Business Convention 2015 (KLIABC 2015). The three-day event kicked off today till 29 April 2015 at Menara MATRADE, Kuala Lumpur.

KLIABC 2015 aims to showcase the capabilities of Malaysian companies in the aerospace sector to international players. Jointly organised by MATRADE and French-based ABE Aerospace France, this event will open up business opportunities for local companies to collaborate with international brands seeking outsourcing partners in South East Asia, in the MRO, engineering & design services, aerospace parts & components manufacturing as well as systems integration & maintenance.

The main highlight of KLIABC 2015 is a one-day aerospace conference on 27 April and pre-arranged Business to Business (B2B) match making session on 28 and 29 April 2015. A total of 145 organisations from 24 countries ranging from airlines, aircraft manufacturers, engine makers, airlines, suppliers and principals have registered for both the conference and B2B session.

19 presentations from prominent local and international speakers will be featured during the conference, covering various topics among which include the aerospace value chain and the future of the industry. The conference is divided into three main parts — ‘Overview of Malaysia’s Aerospace Industry: Opportunities for Growth’, ‘Airlines Strategic Challenges in South East Asia: Reducing Cost & Maximising Efficiency’ and ‘Aerospace and Growing MRO Market: Strategic Partnership and Cooperation with International Players’. Among the participating companies in the conference are; Malaysia Airlines, Strand Aerospace Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Lufthansa Airlines, AIRBUS, Bae System, Safran, GMF and Rolls-Royce, among many others.

In addition, the B2B match making sessions, will be a springboard for Malaysian companies, especially SMEs to venture into the global market, through meetings with key players in the aerospace industry and to discuss business prospects.

Malaysia’s total exports of aerospace related products in 2014, increased by 15.7 per cent to USD879 million (RM2.9 billion), mainly contributed by aircraft parts and components, aircraft propellers and rotor and air combat simulators. The main export markets were United Kingdom, Singapore, United States of America, Japan and Thailand.

KLIABC 2015 provides an ideal platform for industry players to converge and discuss on how industry needs can be fulfilled effectively. With the Government’s recently introduced National Aerospace Blueprint 2030, Malaysia is set to be a major player in the Aerospace sector in the Asia-Pacific region by capturing new markets and upgrade the industry.