GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association, has opened a GIFAS office based at Safran’s regional headquarters in Singapore.
The Southeast Asia French Aerospace Network (SEAFAN) will be headed by David Dufrenois, ASEAN Regional Delegate & CEO of Safran Singapore. Amine Chehri is the regional co-ordinator.
GIFAS is heading the French pavilion at the ongoing show, where about 30 companies are representing the core of the French aerospace industry. Its decision to open its regional office in Singapore is a strategic decision, at a time when the Franco-Singapore relation enjoys an excellent level of cooperation at the highest political level.
As many as 30 GIFAS members, spanning the entire value chain from OEMs and system
integrators to Tier-1 suppliers, engineering services, digital solutions and logistics, are
established in Singapore. They represent more than 4 000 direct jobs, accounting for 18% of the global aerospace workforce in Singapore.
French companies use Singapore not only as an operational base but also as a strategic
platform for addressing ASEAN and Asia-Pacific, reinforcing the role of Singapore as a
regional industrial and innovation leader, and contributing to Singapore trade surplus.
The main objectives for this office will be to act as a bridge between French and Singaporean industrial players, using Singapore as a hub for a regional expansion, by identifying local needs and expectations in terms of partnerships, supporting French companies willing to set either JVs or green fields in Singapore, supporting both French and Singaporean companies on regulatory aspects, and organizing networking events.
GIFAS will also work on building a joint roadmap with its local sister organization AAIS (Association of Aerospace Industries Singapore), covering both civilian and military markets.
