Invest NI hosts european aerospace seminar

Invest NI has hosted a European Aerospace seminar in Brussels aimed at promoting the latest developments and opportunities within the business to a number of leading Northern Ireland companies.

Liam Breslin of the European Commission and Jean-Pierre Barthelemy of the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe addressed the delegates on a range of issues from the concept and structure of aeronautics and air transport to the future of the European aeronautical industry.

Commenting on the seminar Kevin McCann, Director of Transport, Construction and Tourism with Invest NI said: “By hosting this event we are giving local companies a more detailed insight into what is happening within the aerospace sector at the European Commission level. This will allow them to adapt to changes within the industry and set new strategic priorities to improve their competitiveness.”

The seminar follows on from a similar event held in Belfast last year which focussed on issues such as changes in the supply chain, the latest technological developments and potential new business opportunities within the European market place.

Speaking after the event Alec McRitchie, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Europe, of Bombardier Aerospace said: “Seminars like this are vitally important to companies operating within this highly competitive business sector. Only by keeping up-to-date with changes within the industry, particularly at a European level, will businesses be able to stay ahead of their competitors and enhance their exporting capabilities.”

Other participating companies at the seminar included John Huddleston Engineering, Goodrich Control Systems Ltd, Thales as well as representatives from the School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ulster and the Aeronautical Engineering department of Queen’s University, Belfast.

(MB/SP)