Bigwigs: Sixty-two of the top 100 global aerospace companies such as Boeing, EADS, Honeywell and Rolls-Royce will be exhibiting at the event

This year we are expecting overseas attendees from more than 100 countries, including nearly 1,000 media representatives from over 300 media outfits.

The Singapore Airshow brings together the largest gathering of high-level officials from the military and government, as well as key industry players from regulators to airport and airline operators.

Although 2009 was an especially challenging year for the aviation industry, the Singapore Airshow remains a must-attend event in the global aviation calendar. Exhibitors remain confident about the airshow, with more than 85 per cent of the 2008 exhibitors returning for this year's show. In addition, 62 of the top 100 global aerospace companies such as Boeing, EADS, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin will be exhibiting at the event.

The number of country pavilions has also risen, from 18 in 2008 to 22 this year, with New Zealand, Switzerland, Japan and Romania being the latest additions to the roster. With strong support from International Enterprise (IE) and SPRING Singapore, the Singapore country pavilion at the show will be 50 per cent larger, with more local small and medium precision engineering firms in the aviation industry taking part.

Asia holds the key to continued growth of the aerospace industry and is expected to show the greatest improvement in 2010, driven by the recovery in regional economies.

The long-term outlook for the global air travel market looks set to improve. Led by China and India, growth in Asia is expected to outpace that of mature markets in Europe and the US.

With the calibre of its exhibitors, visitors, partners and delegates, the Singapore Airshow has proven to be a strategic platform for businesses eyeing the Asia-Pacific market. It will continue to act as a springboard to the region, which is viewed as a hotspot for aerospace growth. While conditions are challenging, the outlook for Singapore's aerospace sector remains positive with the sector having achieved a record output of $7 billion in 2009. This undoubtedly reflects the trend in the aerospace manufacturing industry in Asia-Pacific. Singapore Airshow, being the first major aviation event for 2010, should provide a good indication of the industry trend and is well-placed to leverage on opportunities when the upturn takes off.

The success of the inaugural Singapore Airshow in 2008 has spurred us to push the boundaries. Competition in the aviation exhibition space has grown more intense over the years with many players scrambling for a share of the pie.

In the Asia-Pacific region alone, there are no fewer than 15 similar events taking place. As such, innovation is the key to staying at the forefront. In my opinion, the key success factor for aviation events, such as Le Bourget Air Show in Paris and the Singapore Airshow, lies in the fact that they offer an important global platform, bringing together industry players from fragmented regions and often diverse economies.

The Singapore Airshow aims to deliver opportunities and we are constantly innovating to maximise the value that our participants will get. For instance, participants can look forward to new initiatives this year such as the Green Pavilion and the inaugural Business Forums.

The aerospace industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in Singapore. The republic has earned a reputation as one of the most comprehensive aerospace hubs in the Asia-Pacific, and is home to a large base of well-established aerospace MNCs. Singapore Airshow will continue to play a pivotal role in boosting the country's attractiveness in the global aerospace industry.

According to a recent report by Frost and Sullivan, Singapore is the largest maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) hub in the Asia-Pacific and remains committed to developing the aerospace industry.

It is recognised for its strength in intellectual property (IP) rights as well as a sustainable business environment with the latest in technological advancements. The sector will get a boost with the development of the Seletar Aerospace Park. This is an integrated aerospace facility which, besides MRO, will play host to manufacturing and other business activities. Companies such as Rolls Royce, Pratt and Whitney and ST Aerospace are among those that have made a commitment to invest in it. The park is slated for completion by 2018.

Key conferences held during Singapore Airshow this year seek to engage participants through panel discussions with the distinguished presenters. These delegates will not only get information on the latest developments impacting the industry - they will also be able to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of the aviation industry.

The Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit (SAALS) 2010 - a collaborative effort of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Singapore Airshow & Events (SAE) - is the only industry event that brings together high-level participants - regulators, the private and government sectors and airline operators.

Highlighting the critical challenges faced by the aerospace industry, SAALS's theme is 'Battling the Crisis, Shaping the Future', with a focus on the environment, liberalisation, security challenges and salient regional trends.

In addition, the Asia Pacific Security Conference (APSEC) 2010 will allow defence officials, military personnel and aviation industry leaders to address concerns relating to 'The Evolution of Military Power in the 21st Century'.

Featuring panel discussions on Asia-Pacific military transformation and the future of airpower, it will examine the strategic dilemma faced by military organisations in the region. These include modernisation and transformation amid security issues such as pandemics, terrorism and environmental disasters. APSEC 2010 is co-organised by the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and SAE.

Held in conjunction with the airshow is a new conference - 'New Challenges in Aerospace Technology & Maintenance Conference (NCATMC)'. This conference, jointly organised by the Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers (SIAE) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), aims to promote the sharing of knowledge between professionals in the aerospace community.

Singapore Airshow's success also depends on the consistently high service levels that we try to provide to exhibitors, partners, visitors and foreign dignitaries. We take their feedback seriously and always strive to raise the bar, making their experience at this year's event better than the last.

The writer is the managing director of the Singapore Airshow