PARIS: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd today took further incremental steps to realise its vision of becoming a global leader in creating an airport city.
It signed two more memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Gyeongnam Techno Park (GNTP), a South Korean global technology hub that aims to establish innovative technology intensive corporations, and Skyways Technics, a company based in Sonderborg and Billund Airport, Denmark with over 30 years of maintenance experience in ATR aircrafts.
The signings were held during the International Paris Airshow 2017 at the Malaysian Chalet, Paris Le-Bourget Exhibition Centre, where MAHB is participating through its KLIA Aeropolis initiative.
The MoU between MAHB and GNTP demonstrates both parties’ commitment towards synergistic inter-park collaboration in the development of Subang Aerotech Park, which focuses on manufacturing (aerostructures, components, tools and jigs) and maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) for engine and components, an MAHB statement said.
The collaboration is aimed at developing the respective aerospace ecosystems in both countries where possible areas of collaboration will include the establishment of reciprocal and close cooperative systems to promote aerospace industries, as well as knowledge building and transfers in cluster management, cluster planning, building and facility management.
It will also serve as platform of information exchange on marketing and promotion activities.
The collaboration is expected to expand and support the industry’s future growth. Subang Aerotech Park is expected to have spillover effects towards the development of KLIA Aeropolis.
The MoU between MAHB and Skyways Technics, meanwhile, focuses on collaboration efforts to facilitate Skyways Technics’ expansion plan within the MAHB aerospace ecosystem spanning Subang and KLIA Aeropolis.
The expansion plan will involve further investment to develop Skyways Technics' facility for its component repair workshop as well as to serve its MRO operations. Skyways Technics is looking at setting-up this facility within the Subang Aerotech Park Phase 1.
The facility will be located at the former Customs Department building and will serve as their repair workshop, warehouse for spare parts as well as an office base to serve its Asia Pacific market segment. Since 2014, Skyways Technics already has its operations in Subang where it caters to its APAC market specifically for spare parts, component repair, and AOG (aircraft on ground) services for ATR & Bombardier CRJ aircraft.
MAHB managing director Datuk Badlisham Ghazali signed the agreement on behalf of MAHB while GNTP was represented by chief executive officer Lee Tae-Sung and Skyways Technics was represented by its CEO Benjamin Nielsen.
“Malaysia Airports is pleased to have signed the MoUs with both parties as both companies definitely have the right capacity and experience to help us materialise the goals of KLIA Aeropolis through their expertise, business objectives and service offerings.
"We are confident that the collaboration with these companies will further position Malaysia Airports as a regional key economic enabler," said Badlisham.
He added that KLIA Aeropolis was poised to capture the growing demands from aerospace industry trends where there has been a significant boom in the national aerospace ecosystem and presence of its players - from only a few players before the year 2000 to over 200 players to date, including renowned first-tier players. MAHB currently hosts over 20 per cent of these players within its aerospace ecosystem in Subang and KLIA.
“In fact, the confidence level has already grown and can be seen through recent negotiations and agreements we have had with our business partners,” added Badlisham.
MAHB manages and operates 39 airports in Malaysia and one international airport in Istanbul. It also provides airport management and technical services for the development, operation, maintenance and management of overseas international airports.