Post by ferryfast admin on Mar 9, 2006 1:48:05 GMT -5
Posted: 08 March 2006 1800 hrs
Organisers of Singapore Airshow working hard for 2008 event
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The new - and bigger - Singapore Airshow is preparing for take-off in 2008.
Already, 85 percent of exhibitor space has already been sold.
The tender to build the site will be called in 3 weeks with the buildings expected to be up by August next year.
But with substantial start-up costs and some new features, organisers say it may take several years before they can break even.
The airshow is touting itself as the third largest in the world after Paris and Farnborough.
The 24-hectare Singapore Airshow site will be at least 30 to 40 percent bigger than the recently-concluded Asian Aerospace.
Ten contractors have been short-listed to build the new site which can be expanded to 30 hectares over time, if needed.
Organisers refused to disclose the tender amount, but the show certainly won't come cheap.
Jimmy Lau, MD, Singapore Airshow, said: "It will take several million to stage the show, aside from having to build an entirely new site. The aim is to break even a couple of shows down but certainly not for the first and second event - will take several years time."
So far response has been strong with major names in the industry having signed on.
But the organisers are reaching out to smaller exhibitors, promising them space in the same hall as the big players.
Mr Lau said: "The balance 15 percent will be the last lap and most difficult because these are mostly smaller companies and we hope to seal them up by the end of the year."
The airshow will also tap on its waterfront location by including a naval element.
One new feature being considered is a jetty near the seafront.
This means exhibitors and visitors can come in via ferries instead of driving in.
And there's also space for yachts so that exhibitors can host their guests there and view the flying displays from there too.
Floating naval exhibits at the defence show is also one other option.
The inaugural Singapore Airshow - which will also have 3 concurrent conferences - will run from 19th to 24th February in 2008. - CNA/ch
Organisers of Singapore Airshow working hard for 2008 event
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia
The new - and bigger - Singapore Airshow is preparing for take-off in 2008.
Already, 85 percent of exhibitor space has already been sold.
The tender to build the site will be called in 3 weeks with the buildings expected to be up by August next year.
But with substantial start-up costs and some new features, organisers say it may take several years before they can break even.
The airshow is touting itself as the third largest in the world after Paris and Farnborough.
The 24-hectare Singapore Airshow site will be at least 30 to 40 percent bigger than the recently-concluded Asian Aerospace.
Ten contractors have been short-listed to build the new site which can be expanded to 30 hectares over time, if needed.
Organisers refused to disclose the tender amount, but the show certainly won't come cheap.
Jimmy Lau, MD, Singapore Airshow, said: "It will take several million to stage the show, aside from having to build an entirely new site. The aim is to break even a couple of shows down but certainly not for the first and second event - will take several years time."
So far response has been strong with major names in the industry having signed on.
But the organisers are reaching out to smaller exhibitors, promising them space in the same hall as the big players.
Mr Lau said: "The balance 15 percent will be the last lap and most difficult because these are mostly smaller companies and we hope to seal them up by the end of the year."
The airshow will also tap on its waterfront location by including a naval element.
One new feature being considered is a jetty near the seafront.
This means exhibitors and visitors can come in via ferries instead of driving in.
And there's also space for yachts so that exhibitors can host their guests there and view the flying displays from there too.
Floating naval exhibits at the defence show is also one other option.
The inaugural Singapore Airshow - which will also have 3 concurrent conferences - will run from 19th to 24th February in 2008. - CNA/ch