INSIGHT
GENERATING SYNERGIES TO UNDERPIN GROWTH BRIG. GEN. RODOLFO RODRÍGUEZ QUEZADA President of FAMEX
Mexico’s thriving aerospace sector needs support from all
these discussions, we noticed that many companies bought
its members if the industry is to reach its goal of positioning
components from foreign suppliers. But these products are
the country among the world’s largest aerospace players,
also manufactured in other Mexican aero clusters or even
says Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Rodríguez Quezada, President of
by companies within the same cluster,” he adds. Business
the Mexican Aerospace Fair (FAMEX). He adds that a top-
meetings of this kind are FAMEX’s bread and butter. While
notch industry event like FAMEX, organized by SEDENA, is a
other fairs welcome more visitors, often tourists watching
key component in that strategy. “As the 14th-largest country
the air shows, FAMEX aims to attract business leaders and
in aerospace exports, Mexico deserves an aerospace fair
decision-makers from across the sector. “In 2015, we hosted
that lives up to the quality of its exploits,” says Quezada.
over 3,500 business meetings,” says Rodríguez. The 2017, the event saw the number of those meetings increase to 4,600.
The fair is among SEDENA’s endeavors to aid the country’s economic development, supplementing its mandate to
FAMEX, held every two years, is much more than just a
protect Mexico and support the local population through
meeting place for the industry’s businesses. The event hosts
social development programs, reforestation and providing
several seminars in foreign investment and aeronautical
support during natural disasters. The defense ministry
education. FAMEX 2017, held in April, also hosted the first
also helps promote the industry at international forums,
Mexico-Brazil Synergy Seminar. “This event marks the first
including airshows in France, Dubai and Berlin, Farnborough
encounter between the two Latin American economic
International Airshow and the International Air and Space
powerhouses in the aerospace sector,” says Rodríguez. “It
Fair (FIDAE).
was organized to cater to Brazilian corporations’ interests in Mexico’s aerospace industry.” Brazilian OEM Embraer
Mexico’s aerospace industry exported US$7.2 billion in
was born from the country’s army and eventually branched
2016. The country is the fifth-most attractive destination
into the commercial sector. Its regional airplanes are now
for aerospace FDI, after the US, China, the UK and France.
used by many Mexican airlines. The presence of financial
Quezada points out that in addition to governmental
institutions from both countries, such as Brazil National
support, the sector enjoys the cooperation of academia,
Bank, NAFIN and Bancomext, ensured many business
which is aligning curricula with industry interests and
opportunities for Mexican companies. Brazil and Mexico
allowing recent graduates to slip straight into major
compete in several industries, including automotive and
aerospace companies operating in Mexico, such as Safran,
technology but both can learn from each other, Rodríguez
Honeywell, UTC and Zodiac.
says. “The event’s objective was to create business opportunities and to offer information on financial support
FAMEX’s goal is to promote the growth of the aerospace
that banks provide to the industry.”
industry by attracting foreign companies and investment. The ministry believes it is uniquely positioned to achieve
FAMEX 2017 raised expectations even more than
this. “We have a complete understanding of Mexico’s
its predecessor and delivered. The event welcomed
industry and we are promoters of local aerospace,” says
45,000 visitors and 505 exhibitors, from the largest
Rodríguez. Results speak for themselves. “After its first
OEMs including Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Embraer,
edition, FAMEX became the second-largest aerospace fair
Gulfstream, MD Helicopters and Pilatus, to their suppliers.
in Latin America in terms of attendees, conferences and
It hosted exhibitions from the US, Canada, Israel, Brazil, the
exhibitors, having hosted participants from 18 countries,” he
UK and France, the second Foreign Investment Seminar
says. FAMEX 2015 represented the first occasion in which all
and the second Aerospace Education Forum. The event
aerospace clusters sat together with FEMIA and the event
also allowed the exchange of knowledge through 107
created unprecedented business opportunities. “During
conferences and panels.
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