Hard-pressed aviation firms get free promotion funding

The government has launched the Aviation Promotion Programme (AProP) with a $5 million budget for brand expansion.

Open to Singapore-registered companies, organisations and industry trade associations, AProP aims to strengthen the Singapore aviation brand and help Singapore companies to expand their reach in international markets and their access
to business opportunities, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in a release.

"For the aviation industry in Singapore to enhance its competitiveness, the industry needs to raise its productivity and increase its access to new markets and business opportunities," said CAAS.

"The AProp will assist Singapore companies to showcase their products and services at major international trade shows. Singapore companies will be encouraged to exhibit under a Singapore Pavilion, contributing to enhancing our position as a comprehensive aviation hub. AProP will also encourage the adoption of international best practices at the cluster level by supporting business missions, study trips and consultancy studies by Singapore companies, organizations and industry trade associations," it added.

There is also an inititiative to bolster the productivity of the Singapore aviation industry with the expansion of the Aviation Innovation Programme (AIP).

"Launched in 2010 with a budget of $25 million over 5 years, the AIP seeks to encourage organisations to embark on innovative projects, initially to develop new or enhanced capabilities. With its enhanced scope, the AIP will now also support companies embarking on projects geared towards achieving transformative productivity goals, i.e. significant and sustainable productivity gains of at least 20%," said CAAS.

"These can include process reengineering, the adoption of new technologies and the development of new tools to increase operational efficiency. The programme continues to be open to all Singapore registered companies and organisations and those with a presence in Singapore; including institutes of higher learning and research centres," it added.

“The global aviation landscape is increasingly marked by challenges, demands and pressures, requiring aviation companies to stay ahead in the highly competitive environment. The two initiatives launched today under the Aviation Development Fund will provide platforms for aviation companies in Singapore to grow their businesses and keep Singapore at the forefront of aviation.” Said Mr Yap Ong Heng, Director-General, CAAS.

The initiatives expand the scope of the $100 million Aviation Development Fund set up to develop the Singapore aviation industry.