By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Sept 12 – The state administration aims to make the Selangor Aviation Show (SAS) the top air show in Southeast Asia and among the best in Asia by 2030, said Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
The Menteri Besar said the show’s prestige and significance have grown since its inception, with many of their regional neighbours taking cues from Selangor as a key aviation hub and the hosting of its premier aviation platform.
“As Selangor aims to cement our position as the Gateway to Asean, the Selangor Aviation Show is primed to be the flag bearer to Asean’s skies, a region home to more than 680 million and growing at a rapid pace.
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Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari delivers his speech during the launch of the Selangor Aviation Show 2024, at the Skypark Regional Aviation Centre in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, on September 12, 2024. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
“Of course, we have some way to go before we can be in the same ring as the Dubai Air Show or even the Berlin Air Show. But we have our sights set on making SAS the top air show in Southeast Asia and one of Asia’s best by 2030.
“Some of our neighbours have already taken a leaf out of our books to develop air shows of their own after seeing the success of SAS,” he said at the launch of the SAS 2024 at Skypark Regional Aviation Centre (RAC) in Bukit Jelutong today.
Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah graced the opening ceremony of the air show with a launching gimmick.
Also in attendance were state executive councillor for trade, investment, and mobility Ng Sze Han, Selangor State Secretary Dato’ Haris Kasim, Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) chief executive officer Saipolyazan M. Yusop, and Invest Selangor Bhd (Invest Selangor) chief executive officer Dato’ Hasan Azhari Idris.
While acknowledging the challenges the aviation industry faced after the Covid-19 pandemic, Amirudin said the sector has since recovered, with air travel on the rise and the need to expand its supporting services to keep up with demand.
“There has never been a moment in history where the aviation and aerospace industry has been filled with more optimism and room for growth than today.
“Let us face it. Compared to all sectors, travel and aviation were the worst hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and today, we are still behind pre-Covid forecasts for growth, and the disruptions caused by the pandemic have caused the industry to still play catch up, especially due to supply chain constraints.
“In the commercial sector, airlines are still playing catch-up on basic elements like staffing. There is still insufficient pilots and cabin crew, while governments and airport operators are on a hiring spree for ground staff and air traffic controllers,” he said, adding that the state government aims to help resolve these issues by hosting career fairs to match talent and employers.
Amirudin also reiterated his administration’s push to make Selangor the key trade hub in the Asean region by establishing a conducive ecosystem for complex industries, training, and retaining skilled talents, and championing sustainable development as outlined in its five-year development plan, the First Selangor Plan (RS-1).
“Under RS-1, this state government’s move to develop a medium-term socioeconomic plan aims to make Selangor not only Malaysia’s most economically advanced state but also liveable by making sustainability a core component of our development philosophy.
“In Selangor, we understand that while we are Malaysia’s most populous state, we have to increase the higher-end talent pool, and that is the driving force behind the state government’s active partnership with companies, including within the aviation industry, to develop higher-end technical and vocational programmes so that companies operating in this space have a ready-made, tailor-made access to a talent pool,” he said.
Amirudin added that over 40,000 people have pre-registered for this year’s event, starting today until Saturday (September 14).
Event organiser Invest Selangor Bhd (Invest Selangor) has also set a target of at least 25,000 attendees from 45 countries, with the transaction value set to reach at least RM1.3 billion compared to last year’s RM823 million.
The fourth installation of the air show will showcase 128 booths, representing 88 companies from seven countries, including Singapore, China, the United Kingdom, France, India, Australia, and Cambodia.
The event will also feature high-profile participants including Textron Aviation, Dassault Aviation, Signum Aviation, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, among others.
Earlier, 41 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed at the launch ceremony.
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Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah (centre) officiates the launch of the Selangor Aviation Show 2024, at the Skypark Regional Aviation Centre in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam, on September 12, 2024. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
