AEROMART’s international dimension takes off

The event, which is being held in partnership with the aerospace competitiveness cluster known as Aerospace Valley, is increasing its international dimension, with increased participation from British and Italian companies, among others.

AEROMART’s pre-programmed business meetings bring decision makers from the whole aerospace industry to Toulouse. As of 20 September 2006, 400 companies from 28 countries were already registered for the event. This year, there will be an increased presence of major European manufacturers, with more than 30 British companies registered and 25 from Italy, as well as a strong presence from Germany and Spain. There will also be participants from the Americas (USA, Canada, Mexico and Brazil) and from Asia (China, South Korea). Indian and Russian delegations have also registered for the first time, each made up of 10 companies.

The leading international prime contractors have reregistered for the event, including Airbus, Alcatel Alenia Space, ATR, AVIC, Boeing, Bombardier, CNES, Dassault, EADS Astrium, Embraer, Finmeccanica (with its subsidiaries Augusta, Aermaccchi, Alenia Aeronautica Spazio and Piaggio Aero) and Rolls Royce.

The business meetings are designed to help companies make contacts with prime contractors and other subcontractors, with a view to forming technical or commercial partnerships. The advantage of the business meeting format is that companies can organise meetings in a defined time-frame and at a low cost. Furthermore, AEROMART will hold technical workshops dealing with strategy, business, technology transfer and innovation. Between five and ten of these workshops will be organised by the heads of Aerospace Valley’s Strategic Business Unit (Domaine d’Activités Stratégiques – DAS).

AEROMART is now considered an event of economic interest by the main European aerospace-industry associations (GIFAS, BDLI, SBAC, AIAD, etc.) and is recognised by the US Foreign Trade Department (through the US Embassy). The event confirms the leading international position of the Midi-Pyrénées region of south-west France, which has 50,000 jobs in the aerospace sector as well as training and research facilities that are unique in France.

AEROMART and FTPB are organising a press trip to the event, which will include meetings with companies at the business convention, participation in the workshops and debates (including ‘China and India: emerging aerospace nations’), and visits to aerospace companies in the Midi-Pyrénées region. Further details are available upon request from Ms Kate Ambler, Press Officer, at FTPB.

About AEROMART

AEROMART is organised by Midi-Pyrenees Expansion (the regional development agency of the Midi-Pyrenees region of south-west France) and the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is funded by the Midi-Pyrenees Regional Council, the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Haute-Garonne Departmental Council and the Greater Toulouse Conurbation Community.

BCI, a leading European promoter of business conventions, is in charge of organising and marketing the event, which will be held on 29 and 30 November 2006 in Toulouse at the Parc des Expositions.