WAM ABU DHABI: Starting from April 16th, under the Patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi will welcome the inaugural Global Aerospace Summit 2012, a strategic gathering of global industry leaders discussing future growth strategies in the aerospace, aviation, and space industries.

The Global Aerospace Summit incorporates three different themes: aerospace, aviation and space, complemented by closed door discussions, private procurement meeting programs, and field trips to aerospace and aviation facilities. Finmeccanica, the Italy's leading group in satellites, aviation and aerospace in both military and civil sectors, will participate together with other Italian companies in this important event.

"This summit is a great opportunity for all the international players to discuss market trends, customer's expectations, future challenges and opportunities," Giuseppe Orsi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Finmeccanica in a press release.

He emphasized "the growing importance of the Gulf Region for the aerospace industry as a whole. The UAE are pioneers on the lookout for industrial partners in the aeronautical sector, with the capabilities and skills to contribute to developing a truly state-of-the-art industrial base, able to compete on a technological level both at home and on the international markets." Orsi also stated that "Finmeccanica is currently strongly focused on increasing its commitment to the UAE, in a wide range of areas from local technological and industrial partnerships, to tailored high education courses and exchanges, with the aim to wholly support the UAE aerospace vision and future challenging programs. Our strategic collaboration with Strata, carried through Alenia Aermacchi to manufacture structural aircraft components in composite materials in Al Ain plant, the joint venture between AgustaWestland and Abu Dhabi Aviation for the helicopters maintenance and logistic, and the partnership between Selex Sistemi Integrati and Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding for naval system integration activities, are three patterns." AgustaWestland manufactures helicopters and tiltrotors for civil and military use, and is one of the most technologically advanced and competitive players in the global helicopter's business. It offers the most comprehensive range of commercial and defense helicopters, covering all the main weight categories. The company also has the relevant expertise to select and install avionics, computerized flight control and mission management systems. Having already supplied 50 AW139 helicopters to the Emirates, AgustaWestland is committed to expand its local industrial footprint and to develop in the UAE a regional support capability.

Alenia Aermacchi has a leading global position in the development and production of trainer aircraft and related ground support services. In addition, it is at the cutting edge in the production of military and civil aircraft. It also has a 50% stake in joint venture ATR, the world leader in regional turboprop aircraft, while through its 51% share in the SuperJet International joint venture is active in the regional jet sector. Furthermore, Alenia Aermacchi is a partner with 21% shares of Eurofighter Consortium, the multinational company that co-ordinates the design, production and upgrade of the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. Finmeccanica - in this case through Selex Galileo - is also active in next generation's UAV.

For the Italian Ambassador to the UAE Giorgio Starace, "the significant participation of Finmeccanica and its companies AgustaWestland, Alenia Aermacchi and SelexGalileo, in addition to Piaggio Aero Industries, at their maximum corporate level, it is a clear sign of the of the strategic importance given to the UAE. Our country is fully committed to increase the partnership and local collaborations, especially in the Aerospace sector, and we are working together to reach the ambitious Emirati targets for the future." This inaugural event is forecasted to become a "must" and will be firmly established as one of the key summits on the international aerospace calendar.ends." WAM/MMYS