Over 100 Exhibitors, 37 New to FIDAE, 30 New to Market
The US and Canada, with over 100 companies exhibiting and occupying almost 20% of the total indoor exhibit space, have the largest international presence at Latin America’s premier defence and aerospace, FIDAE 2018, taking place in Santiago de Chile 3-8 April.
Of the more than 100 companies involved, 80 are exhibiting in the new USA and Canada Partnership Pavilions, organised by Kallman Worldwide in coordination with numerous government agencies, including the US Departments of Commerce, Defense and State and the Alberta Province Ministry of Economic Development and Trade in Canada. Kallman has represented FIDAE in the United States and Canada since 1994. This is its first under the ‘Partnership Pavilion’ banner, which President and CEO Tom Kallman says reflects a global trend.
“Now more than ever, success in international trade comes from partnership and teamwork. The new USA and Canada Partnership Pavilions sharpen our focus on helping advance our two countries’ national security and economic interests by building stronger relationships with our international customers,” stated Kallman. “Many of our exhibitors already have significant business partnerships and operations in Chile and across Latin America. In the years to come, many more will, particularly as President Piñera and his party move to position Chile as a business portal to the region and the world.”
Some 37 of these exhibitors are new to the show and 30 new to the market, with 24 US states represented (including three state pavilions) and four Canadian provinces, one of which is hosting its own pavilion. Located prominently in the show’s Exhibition Hall C, the pavilions are full-service business destinations: efficient locations for buyers to meet more US and Canadian suppliers, on-site operations centres for exhibitors to maximise their exposure and impact at the show, and networking hubs for all to share ideas and insights.
Pavilion exhibitors are all looking to develop business and create jobs by growing exports, expanding in-region partnerships and/or recruiting Latin American partners to establish or participate in home-based operations. Of the 54 exhibitors in the USA Partnership Pavilion, 10 are new to the Latin America market; 15 are new to the show. For the 26 Canadian exhibitors, 20 are new to the market and 21 new to the show.
Notably, the states of California, Florida and Washington, and the province of Alberta, through their individual offices of economic development and commerce, are organising their own state- or province-branded pavilions featuring multiple home-based co-exhibitors within their larger national pavilion space.
Addressing the spike in Canadian participation in this year’s show, Klaus Buttner, Managing Director of the Alberta Mexico Office, said home-grown innovation is leading the way for business development in Latin America. The office supports pan-Latin American strategic initiatives. “Participating Alberta companies offer many diverse strengths that help push innovation in the sector. In fact, Alberta is home to the final assembly facility for Canada’s second largest aircraft manufacturer of the world-renowned TWIN OTTER aircraft, and to the country’s first Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) approved Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Range,” commented Buttner. “Building on the strength of current Canadian business partnerships in the region, Alberta is delighted to help celebrate FIDAE’s 20th anniversary, and looks forward to engaging the array of international delegations and decision-makers from across Latin America and beyond.”
The North American showing features industry heavyweights including Lockheed Martin (Booth C30), Pratt & Whitney (C14) and Harris (C29), plus many more small-to-medium sized suppliers such as IMP Aerospace and Defence (C06), AERIUM Analytics (C12) and ICAO (C09), whose components and services are critical to the success of larger programmes. Their collective presence is a strong indication of how important Latin America is to the US and Canadian aerospace and defence industries, and that air forces and commercial operators throughout the region, particularly in Chile, are looking north for innovative solutions and partners to grow their economies and defend their national security.
