Indonesia successfully held the much-anticipated Bali International Airshow over the weekend for the first time in three decades.
As the largest event of its kind in the region, the Bali International Airshow 2024 reflects Indonesia’s commitment to elevating its aerospace and defense sectors to new heights, solidifying its position as a key player in the Asia-Pacific aviation landscape.
Indonesia’s coordinating minister of maritime affairs and investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said in his opening remarks: “The Bali International Airshow demonstrates our fortitude to compete and become a prominent global player in the aerospace industry. I also underscore our effort to chart a brighter, sustainable future for the aviation sector. The enhancement of Indonesia’s aerospace sectors is imperative for the future of Indonesia. This is not merely a strategic necessity, but the pivotal driver of our nation’s economy and social progress.”
Pandjaitan was accompanied by several other senior officials at the grand opening for the event, including transportation minister Budi Karya Sumadi, and Jodi Mahardi, deputy coordinating minister for maritime sovereignty and energy.
A landmark agreement
The event was also marked by the signing of the Letter of Intent (LOI) for the Bali International Airshow between the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Ministry of Transportation; Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ministry of Defense, PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (InJourney), an enterprise that manages Indonesia’s aviation and tourism sectors, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI AU), and PT Inaro Tujuh Belas.
Through this letter of intent, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment proposed the establishment of a cooperation agreement among the relevant stakeholders, one that aims to strengthen the collaboration between industry players globally, which will assist Indonesia in advancements in the areas of technology, innovation and tourism.
Likewise, it was also announced that the Bali International Airshow would become a biennial event in Indonesia, taking place during every odd year.
Support from the world’s best
It should also be noted that the number of international participants at the airshow underscored Indonesia’s strategic ambition to become a pivotal player in the Asia Pacific region, essentially solidifying its growing presence on the international aviation stage in becoming a regional hub for aerospace innovation and defence technology.
Participants from 48 nations came to the event and were made up of government-sponsored delegations, trade visitors and exhibitors.
Companies that showcased at the event included global aerospace and defence giants like Airbus, Bell Helicopters, Boeing, Brahmos, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Garuda Group, Leonardo (represented by Helitech Asia, its distributor in the Asia Pacific), Lion Air, MBDA, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Textron Aviation, and Thales.
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