Is Asian Aerospace heading for Hong Kong?
HONG KONG has emerged as a strong contender to be the new host city
of the Asian Aerospace air show in 2008 after its last show in
Singapore next month, according to aviation and defence industry
sources.
Although neither the show's organisers nor the Hong Kong company
running the venue would confirm the move, talk in the industry is
rife that a deal is close.
Hong Kong's US$300 million (S$489 million) AsiaWorld-Expo site
dwarfs the Asian Aerospace's current show site at the Changi
Exhibition Centre, which is near Changi Village.
AsiaWorld's 70,000 sq m of rentable space is sited a few minutes'
stroll from Hong Kong International Airport.
The brand new facility, opened on Dec 21 last year, is some three
times bigger than Asian Aerospace's current exhibition halls and
the new show site being built on reclaimed land facing Pulau Tekong
in Changi North.
Asian Aerospace, the world's third biggest air show, has been held
in Singapore for the past 25 years. Next month's show, which takes
place from Feb 21 to 26, will be the 13th and last Asian Aerospace
to be held here.
London-based Reed Exhibitions, which owns the Asian Aerospace
brand, decided last October to move the show elsewhere after it
could not agree with the Government on the development of a new
site for the air show.
Industry sources said moving the show to Hong Kong would give
aviation companies taking part ready access to China's booming
aviation sector.
Reed said last week that it would work with the China Chamber of
Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products
to invite Chinese aviation companies to Asian Aerospace next
month.
The company cited a study by European airliner maker Airbus, which
estimates that over the next 10 years, Chinese passenger traffic
will grow by 9.1 per cent and freight traffic will increase by 9
per cent annually.
'Such strong growth expected in the Chinese aviation sector has
propelled China onto the global aviation map, and into the air show
circuit's list of priority customers,' Reed said.
However, it was too early to talk of the air show's move to Hong
Kong.
The spokesman explained that the search for a replacement venue for
Asian Aerospace has 'demanded a significant degree of due
diligence' and is continuing.
Equally tight-lipped was Mr Kenneth Chan, marketing communications
manager of AsiaWorld-Expo Management, who said: 'As a general
practice, any confirmed events are announced by respective
organisers.'
I wonder this time round, who "minister" will come up to talk about
it.
"Have we done enough to retain their contract?"
