Honorary Consul of the Philippines to Toulouse, France, Mr. Jeffrey Augustus R. Cabuay (center) joins Mr. Froilan Pamintuan, Director and Commercial Attache of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Paris and Mr. John Lee, President of the Aersopace Industry Association of the Philippines (AIAP) at the Philippine booth during Aeromart in Toulouse, France last December 1.

The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Paris (PTIC-Paris) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Board of Investments (DTI-BOI) and the Aerospace Industry Association of the Philippines (AIAP) participated for the first time at the Aeromart Exhibition held in Toulouse, France on November 29-December 1.

Aéromart Toulouse is an international aerospace business convention where representatives from the international aerospace industry gather to network and promote new and emerging opportunities in the international aerospace supply chains and production networks. For the 2016 edition, organizers reported that “2300 participants, 75% of which are international, representing 45 countries,” attended the event.

DTI Undersecretary for Industry Promotion Nora Terrado echoed that “the joint participation of the government and the industry at the Aeromart is intended to generate awareness for the growing Philippine aerospace industry. Not many people realize that Philippine-based companies currently produce parts for major aerospace manufacturers like French company Airbus and US-based Boeing.” 

Mr. John Lee, President of the AIAP also added that, “ Apart from flight actuation systems, galleys, ovens, fit out panel assemblies and others, the Philippines is also a preferredlocation for a number of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies, both foreign and domestic.”

During the Aeromart, the Philippines was able to have business meetings with various players of the global industry, including those that attended the presentation of DTI-BOI on the Opportunities and Strengths of the Philippine Aerospace Industry.

Philippine Trade and Investment Center Director and Commercial Attache Froilan Emil Pamintuan also noted that “French companies are interested in working together with the industry for skills upgrade programs that will eventually make more local manufacturers, AS9100 certified.”

The Philippine government, through the BOI, is also looking at the possibility of organizing an aerospace international gathering in the near future. 

Aeromart Toulouse was held at the Centre des Congrès Pierre Baudis and at the Parc d’Exposition in southern France, and served as the country’s follow up promotion event after the 2016 Singapore Air Show.