British Columbia's diverse aerospace and defence sector will be showcased at one of Canada's premier aerospace expos taking place today and tomorrow in Abbotsford.

British Columbia and its cluster of aerospace and technology companies are ideally located to take advantage of projected growth in worldwide airplane sales and in increased air traffic between North America and the Asia Pacific. The 2013 Aerospace, Defence & Security Expo is an opportunity for Canadian and international aerospace industry partners to come together to capitalize on these assets and capabilities.

British Columbia's aerospace and defence sector is globally recognized for its excellence in delivering highly specialized products and services. It includes a diverse group of technology companies able to provide nimble and responsive support and solutions to the needs of industry leaders and global supply chains.

With close proximity to Boeing's final assembly and integration production lines in the Seattle area, British Columbia is a preferred gateway to the Asia Pacific and a major hub for the Pacific Northwest and Canada's growing aerospace industry. B.C.'s network of high-technology companies provides a wealth of expertise in remote sensing, satellite communications, complex robotics, 3-D simulation technology and advanced aerospace systems and sub-systems.

With a talented and multilingual workforce, local companies are globally competitive and have earned a worldwide reputation for reliable delivery to six continents.

B.C. businesses attending the expo include:

• Advanced Integration Technology
• Aerospace BizDev Inc.
• Alpine Aerotech LP
• Analytic Systems
• Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp.
• ARKTOS Developments Ltd.
• Arrow Dynamics LLC
• Asco
• ASL Environmental Sciences Inc
• ATLAS ELEKTRONIK CANADA Ltd
• Avcorp Industries Inc.
• BC Aviation Council
• BCIT Aerospace Campus
• BNB Aviation Services Inc
• Briggs Consulting Group
• Cascade Aerospace
• Castertown / Blickle Casters
• CIMtech Mfg. Inc.
• Composites Research Network
• Conair Group Inc.
• DGI Supply - a DoALL Company
• E.C.S. Electrical Cable Supply
• Ebco Industries Ltd.
• Enigma Interconnect
• Epic Data
• Heli-One
• JOL Consultants Inc
• Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd.
• KPMG
• Marine Canada Acquisition Inc.
• Marshall Aerospace Canada Inc.
• MDA
• Mitacs Inc.
• NGRAIN
• Norsat International Inc.
• Prototype Equipment Design
• Queo Systems Ltd
• Seaspan
• SIMALEX Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
• Thyssenkrupp Materials - Copper and Brass Sales Div
• University of the Fraser Valley
• Valley Powdercoat Ltd
• VARDEC
• VIVA
• Wesgar Inc. / Wesgar Aerospace Inc.
• Williams & White Manufacturing

Quote:

Minister of International Trade and responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism Teresa Wat -

"British Columbia is a leader in the aerospace industry with a geographic advantage. It is critical to bring together business, industry and government to create opportunities for the sector to grow and create new jobs in British Columbia."

Quick Facts:

• British Columbia's aerospace sector generates over $1.2 billion in revenue per year and directly employs approximately 5,000 people.
• Over the next 20 years, approximately half of the world's air-traffic growth will be connected to or within the Asia Pacific region.
• Total air traffic for the region will grow 6.7 per cent per year during that period and air cargo will grow 6.3 per cent per year.
• To modernize their fleets and meet the growing demand for air transport, airlines in the Asia Pacific region will need 11,450 new airplanes valued at $1.5 trillion over the next 20 years.
• Global airplane sales, for both fleet growth and replacement of aging aircraft, will total 30,900 units over that period, with a value of over $3.6 trillion.
• The B.C. government has invested $65.5 million to improve 36 airports throughout the province in the past decade, including significant projects in Prince George, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Campbell River, Comox, Castlegar, Kelowna, Abbotsford and Langley.

Learn More:

To learn more about the 2013 Aerospace, Defence and Security Expo, click here: https://www.adse.ca/Home

To read the B.C. Aviation Strategy, click here: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/airports/documents/2012_AviationStrategy.pdf

The Aerospace Review is an independent report prepared for the Government of Canada: http://aerospacereview.ca/eic/site/060.nsf/eng/h_00003.html

Media Contact:

Pavan Bajwa
Ministry of International Trade and Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
250 818-0173