Empresas y finanzas

ILA2006 Closing Report: Upturn in the Aerospace Sector

23/05/2006 - 12:55

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ILA finishes with record attendances: 250,000 flocked to
Schonefeld - Value of the partner country concept confirmed -
Outstanding meeting place for the industry, politicians and the
military - Record total of 340 aircraft - Worldwide coverage by 4,100
journalists from 70 countries -
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By the time the International Aerospace Exhibition ended on Sunday
all previous attendance records had been broken. More than 250,000
visitors (2004: 201,500, +25%) were recorded at the ILA2006 between 16
and 21 May, including 115,000 trade visitors (2004: 105,000). Events
on the southern section of Berlin-Schonefeld airport were dominated by
the signing of sales contracts and joint venture agreements worth
billions, a display featuring some 340 aircraft, many of them making
their first public appearance, and the largest number of delegations
and conferences ever. 1,014 exhibitors from 42 countries (2004: 987
from 42 countries) presented products, systems and processes from
every area of the aerospace industry. Several thousand experts from
all over Europe and from overseas attended the more than 90
accompanying conferences in search of information. Some 4,100 media
representatives from 70 countries provided comprehensive coverage of
the main technical themes and the attractions for the public at the
ILA2006.
The ILA2006 emphasised the importance of this sector for Germany
in its role as a centre for the aerospace industry. Hans-Joachim
Gante, Chief Executive of the BDLI, stated: "We have become one of the
few sectors with sustainable growth in Germany, due above all to our
innovative strengths." This was clearly demonstrated at the ILA2006,
which is acquiring an increasingly international dimension, thereby
strengthening its role as one of the world's major meeting places for
the industry. This was an ideal opportunity for the German aerospace
industry to demonstrate that it is among the world leaders."
Exhibitors expressed their satisfaction with the discussions and
contacts and with the business deals that were finalised at this
event. "In particular the decision to make Russia the partner country
proved highly effective. Russia was very strongly represented and was
able to establish numerous contacts and business links."
At the close of the event Stefan Grave, Project Director for Messe
Berlin GmbH, summed up: "The ILA2006 underlined its major importance
as a European marketing platform for this sector as well as again
demonstrating its many attractions for the public. Trade visitors and
the general public alike were fascinated by the high-tech products on
display. Unprecedented numbers of people attended to see the Airbus
A380, an outstanding international flying display and the Space Hall.
Many high-ranking delegations attended, especially during the
three Trade Visitors' Days. In addition to the Federal Minister of
Economics Michael Glos, the ILA2006 also received visits from the
Defence Minister Franz-Josef Jung, Minister of the Interior Wolfgang
Schauble, Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee, the Minister at the
Chancellor's Office Dr. Thomas de Maiziere and the heads of the
regional governments in Brandenburg and Berlin, Matthias Platzeck and
Klaus Wowereit. Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, were very
strongly represented: the Chief of the Armed Forces Wolfgang
Schneiderhan attended the ILA2006, as did the Chiefs of Staff of the
Air Force and Army, Klaus-Peter Stieglitz and Hans-Otto Budde. A
number of ministers from other countries also visited this event,
accompanied by high-ranking delegations, thereby underlining the
international importance of the ILA2006. Among them were, from the
partner country Russia, the Minister of Disaster Relief Sergei
Schoigu, the Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, Henk Kamp, the
Greek Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, the French Transport
Minister Dominique Perben, the Slovenian Defence Minister Karl
Erjavec, the Albanian Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu and the Ukrainian
Industry Minister Volodymyr Shandra. In addition 70 parliamentarians
from 17 European countries were welcomed at the ILA2006.

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