CAAS Moves To Raise Aviation Industry Productivity and Promote Singapore Aviation Companies with New Initiatives

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

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. To this end, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has expanded the scope of the programmes under its Aviation Development Fund (ADF), with the enhancement of the Aviation Innovation Programme (AIP) and the addition of the Aviation Promotion Programme (AProP). The ADF programmes will enable the sustained, long-term growth of the Singapore aviation industry in the dynamic global aviation landscape.

Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs,announcing the new and enhanced initiatives under the Aviation Development Fundat the Aviation Community Reception held at the Red Dot Museum.

The programmes were announced by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the Aviation Community Reception (ACR), held at the Red Dot Design Museum today.

Mr Daniel Ng, Division Head (Aviation Industry), Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore,sharing CAAS’ broad plans for the aviation industry at the Aviation Community Reception.

"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.

Industry guests networking at the Aviation Community Reception,an annual event hosted by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.

Enabling Singapore companies to expand business horizons
AProP is the fourth initiative under the ADF1, with a budget of S$5 million from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2015. 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. 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.

Another platform to raise industry productivity

The AIP has been expanded to bolster the productivity of the Singapore aviation industry. 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%. 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.

Process Innovation Challenge
In 2011, along CAAS' efforts to bolster the aviation industry’s productivity, CAAS launched the Process Innovation Challenge to encourage aviation companies to implement "quick win" projects to improve their productivity. The top 8 projects received funding of up to $50,000 each. These companies will now share their projects via various industry platforms, including a Productivity in Aviation Seminar to be held in July 2012, to facilitate intra-industry learning and accelerate the adoption of productivity improvement initiatives across the aviation sector in Singapore.

Note:1 The three existing programmes under the ADF are the Aviation Innovation Programme, the Aviation Partnership Programme and the Aviation Manpower Programme, first launched in 2010.

Encl:

• Process Innovation Challenge Booklet

• Aviation Development Fund Brochure

About the Aviation Community Reception (ACR)
First organized by CAAS in 2010, as part of efforts to strengthen CAAS' partnership with the aviation industry, the ACR is an annual event which brings together members of the aviation sector. This year's event, held at the Red Dot Design Museum, also included a presentation by CAAS outlining its plans for the year ahead, based on 3 key thrusts: Building Capacity, Changing How We Work and Staying at the Forefront.

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)
The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to “Grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success". CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, develop Singapore as a centre for aviation knowledge and training, and contribute to the development of international aviation.

For media queries, please contact:

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
Email: caas_corporate_communications@caas.gov.sg