Asia's liftoff Kiwis' chance to fly

Alan Koziarski, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's regional director for Southeast Asia, says aviation is one of New Zealand's "sweet spots" for exporters.
Aviation is a "hidden sector" in the economy, he says.
Few people know that New Zealand builds aeroplanes, develops specialist aviation software and supplies the world's airports with baggage handling systems, as well as training hundreds of foreign pilots for international airlines, Mr Koziarski says.
Within two decades Asia Pacific will account for about a third of global aviation industry turnover.
Strong freight and business passenger demand will add another 217 million travellers by 2013. This demand has helped to insulate Asian airlines from the ravages of the global downturn and will allow them to bounce back faster.
The Centre of Asia Pacific Aviation expects the region's airlines to make more than US$5b in profit this year, double the previous forecast and $2b more than the previous peak in 2007.
Indian budget airline IndiGo this week placed the biggest ever order for large jets with an agreement to buy 180 planes from Airbus.
Vietnam has to build 10 new international airports and 16 domestic airports by 2030 to cater for huge demand for air travel as budget airlines slash the cost of flying, Mr Koziarski says.
Asia's growth is key for the New Zealand industry to achieve its target of growing exports from $3.8b to a conservative $6.2b in 2015, he says.
New Zealand companies have a lot to learn and work to do to compete against huge Asian conglomerates, but some are leading the way.
Airways New Zealand is involved in developing India's air traffic management for the country's congested skies.
Hamilton airline pilot trainer CTC took its first intake of Jetstar cadets in July and specialist interior designer Redesign developed the retail area in New Delhi's new airport which opened in time for last year's Commonwealth Games.
"Our message to New Zealand companies is that the aviation industry and all its associated services are booming in Southeast Asia and India.
Glidepath has set up a regional base in Mumbai, India and has supplied baggage sorting systems to a number of Indonesian airports, most recently Padang Airport.
Chairman Ken Stevens, who is also trustee and board member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation, says Asia is much more difficult to break into for New Zealand exporters than Western or Pacific markets, which often share a degree of empathy.
15/01/11 Roeland Van Den Bergh/The Dominion Post/Stuff.co.nz

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Categories: Foreign Jan 2011