At the Singapore Airshow 2024 opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat highlighted the strong recovery and future prospects of the aviation and aerospace sectors, emphasizing Singapore’s role in driving industry transformation through innovation, sustainability, and talent development.
On 19 February 2024, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat, alongside other dignitaries, officially opened the 9th edition of the Singapore Airshow. The event, held at full scale with no restrictions, welcomed 50,000 trade attendees and over 1,000 participating companies from 50 countries, with an additional 60,000 visitors expected during the Public Days. This year’s airshow, marked by a vibrant array of aerial displays and exhibitions, signifies a robust recovery for the aviation and aerospace industries post-COVID-19.
DPM Heng noted the industries’ positive trajectory, with global passenger traffic nearing pre-pandemic levels and new aircraft orders reaching a 5-year high. He underscored the Asia-Pacific’s crucial role, with its growing economies and demand for air travel, in driving global aviation growth. Despite the optimism, Heng also addressed challenges such as geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains and the urgent need for decarbonization within the sector.
Singapore’s strategic initiatives to bolster the aviation and aerospace industries were highlighted, including enhancing supply chain resilience, fostering innovation, and expanding infrastructure like the Seletar Aerospace Park and the upcoming Changi Airport Terminal 5. The DPM emphasized the importance of talent development, with plans to meet the industry’s demand for 2.3 million new personnel over the next two decades, and sustainability efforts, including the commitment to sustainable aviation fuels and exploring green technologies like hydrogen and eVTOL aircraft.
In conclusion, DPM Heng expressed confidence in the aviation and aerospace industries’ potential to drive growth, create jobs, and enhance global connectivity, affirming Singapore’s commitment to supporting these sectors through innovation, sustainability, and talent development.
Source – PMO
