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AIAC Summit highlights aerospace competitiveness

“This week at the Summit, we saw why Canada’s aerospace and space industries are world class when it comes to innovation, productivity and trade,” said Barry Kohler, President of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada and incoming Chair of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC). “The industry has remarkable potential to continue strengthening its competitiveness and economic impact at home and around the world. As we work with government to build on the momentum generated by the Summit and the Emerson and Jenkins reports, I am confident that the best is still to come.”
 
Over 800 industry executives, government officials and stakeholders from across Canada and around the world participated in the Summit’s various events, which included a two-day conference program, B2B and Trade Show, the Annual Aerospace Dinner, and the Aerospace Leadership Luncheon. The B2B and Trade Show drew exhibitors from all sectors of the Canadian aerospace industry as well as foreign delegations from Brazil, the United States, and the Ukraine, among others.
 
With a theme entitled, “Engage in Change: Innovate, Transform, Excel”, the conference program explored trends and impacts of growth and globalization in aerospace, stressing the need for both industry and government to invest in doing things differently in order to stay ahead of the competition. In addition, over 500 meetings took place as part of the Summit’s B2B matchmaking program.
 
“We are very pleased with the success of this year’s event,” said Jim Quick, AIAC’s President and CEO. “In only its third year, the Canadian Aerospace Summit continues to bring together senior leaders from industry and government and highlight the best that Canadian aerospace and space companies have to offer. As our industry continues to take advantage of new opportunities, we look forward to seeing even greater growth for both the Summit and the industry as a whole in future years.”