The country’s local aerospace industry is exploring opportunities in the defense and security sectors as it is participating in the 3rd Asian Defense and Security (ADAS) 2018 Exhibition at the World Trade Center happening from today (September 26) up to Friday, September 28, 2018.
ADAS is a tri-service (defense, security, and crisis management) exhibition and conference which addresses the requirements of the Philippine armed forces, national police, and security agencies. It is expected to attract over 200 leading domestic and international exhibitors representing the full spectrum of defense, homeland security, and disaster relief industries.
ADAS 2018 will feature country delegations and pavilions from the United States, Germany, South Korea, Israel, Turkey, Russia, and Indonesia. Some of the aerospace and defense companies that confirmed participation in the exhibition include Airbus, Bell Helicopters, Trijicon, Harris RF Communications, Saab, Korean Aerospace Industries, Hyundia Heavy Industries, Kia Motors, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, Hanhwa Systems, and Israel Aerospace Industries, among others.
The exhibitors from the Philippines inclufr 3M Philippines, AHOLDTECHPH CORPORATION, Armscor Global Defense, Inc., Armscor Shooting Center, Inc., Army Shirt Wear / VELA APPAREL COMPANY, Astrophysics Asia Inc., Austal Philippines, BAMBU WIRELESS SOLUTIONS / BAMBUSAT, BMW, Bureau of Customs, COMSPEC, Cristanini by Boston Home Inc., Draeger Philippines Corporation, Dynamic Castings, Dynamic Power Marine & Industrial Hardware Inc., Embassy of the United States of America, Government Arsenal, Department of National Defense, Freeport of Bataan (FAB), Microdata Systems and Management Inc., National Security Council, Office of Civil Defense, Panpisco Technologies, Inc., Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine International Trading Corporation, Philippine National Police, Philippine Navy, Philippine Office for Transportation Security, Propmech Corporation (1860), Propmech Corporation (D252), Rohde and Schwarz (Philippines) Incorporated, Safer PH Innovations, Inc., and Triton Communications Corp.
The country’s participation as an exhibitor in ADAS 2018 is made possible by the BOI, the country’s lead industry development and primary investment promotion agency (IPA), in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), and the Aerospace Industries Association of the Philippines (AIAP).
Aerospace is one of the country’s priority sectors. The Aerospace Industry Roadmap which was crafted by the industry in 2013, envisions the Philippines as a hub for aerospace OEM (original equipment manufacturing) and allied services such as MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) for the global commercial aircraft industry. The industry targets to achieve an export value of US$2.573 billion by 2022, to generate 14,932 jobs in the sector, and to have an integrated aerospace value chain in the Philippines.
“Our participation in ADAS further highlights and reaffirms the competitiveness of the local aerospace manufacturing and services industries. These industries have charted significant growths and we see these maturing industries ready to compete in the global market,” Trade Undersecretary for Industry Development and BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said.
The Philippines is rapidly becoming one of the most active and progressive defense and security marketplaces in Southeast Asia with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Act in place. Also known as Republic Act No. 10349, the initiative is a 15-year defense modernization program with an initial funding of Php75 billion for its first phase which is nearing completion. The Department of National Defense (DND) is now embarking on the second phase of the program with a projected potential market value of almost Php6 billion by 2024.
Under the defense and military procurement of the government, local demand and market for maintaining hardware and planes (MRO and parts distribution) is projected to grow.
“The country’s participation in ADAS likewise offer immense opportunities on industrial collaboration such as encouraging investments in MRO, trainings and technology transfer to the Philippines, leveraging on government procurement of aircrafts and military equipment,” Undersecretary Rodolfo said, adding that this positive development translates to the growth of the aerospace and aviation industries, which means more export earnings for the country and more quality jobs for Filipinos.
“We will take advantage of the ADAS Exhibition, and others of this nature, as an opportunity to create traction for our positioning to be the aerospace manufacturing hub for ASEAN,” he said.♦
Date of Release: 26 September