PREMIER LINE-UP OF INDUSTRY CONFERENCES FOR S'PORE AIRSHOW

The inaugural Singapore Airshow is set to be one of the top shows in the world.

According to Mr Jimmy Lau, Managing Director of Singapore Airshow and Events, next month's airshow will be "40 per cent larger than the previous airshow in 2006".

The show will be held from 19 to 24 Feb at Asia's largest purpose-built airshow site.

Mr Lau was speaking at a media conference on 16 Jan to unveil the airshow's conference programmes.

The five conferences are:

Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit
This is a gathering of top government officials, who will meet to discuss the challenges confronting the aviation industry.

Global Air Power Conference
The future of air power will be discussed at the Global Air Power Conference (GAPC). Global air force chiefs and defence industry leaders will be in attendance at this conference, the fourth in the Asia-Pacific Security Conference (APSEC) series.

International Defence Procurement Conference
A first, the International Defence Procurement Conference (IPDC) will address challenges and trends in defence procurement around the world.

C4I Asia Conference
The C4I Asia Conference will focus on command and control in network-centric warfare, and will be the foremost event for military leaders and technologists to share ideas and innovation on network-centricity.

Global Space and Technology Convention
The Global Space and Technology Convention (GSTC) will showcase the latest technology in space engineering and design. The event serves as a networking platform for space industry professionals.

"These conferences will provide the ideal platform for the various communities to come together to meet and discuss pressing issues pertaining to their industries," said Mr Lau.

Singapore Airshow organisers expect the inaugural Singapore Airshow to attract more than 30,000 trade visitors, with more than half coming from overseas.

This is in addition to the 50,000 visitors expected over the 23-24 Feb weekend, when the show is open to the public.