SUBANG (Nov 25): Three international companies in the aviation sector are interested in starting operations in the state, said Selangor state executive councillor for industry and trade Datuk Teng Chang Khim.

According to him, one of the three companies is from Turkey and manufactures Gokbey helicopters.

He said the company is currently in the process of finding a suitable area to set up its helicopter production plant in the state, and has expressed hope to have one in the next two to three years.

“This shows that we have the potential to become an attraction for the aviation industry especially in terms of manufacturing. Of course, when you have manufacturing, you will have other industries like maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to develop too. 

“Hence, we will create a strong and stable ecosystem in making Selangor a regional hub for the business and general aviation industry,” he said during a press conference at the inaugural Selangor Aviation Show 2021 (SAS2021) in Subang on Thursday.

Plans by the other two companies, Teng noted, are still in the early stages and as such he is unable to reveal their names. 

“Both companies are still looking for a suitable time before they make an announcement on their intention to open operations in Selangor.

“They are also always in close contact with us through the Selangor Darul Ehsan Aerospace Industry Coordination Office (S-DAICO) [and] we will help them to find suitable areas as well as assist in the process of obtaining approvals and licences to operate here,” he said. 

Hosted by the Selangor state government, organised by Invest Selangor Bhd, supported by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and the National Aerospace Industry Coordinating Office (NAICO), SAS2021 is a part of Invest Selangor’s initiative to give the aerospace industry a push towards recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic’s devastating effects on the industry.