LEADERS from the aviation, aerospace, defence and space industries are meeting in Abu Dhabi this month to debate the most crucial issues faced by their sectors.

The invitation only Global Aerospace Summit takes place on April 7 and 8 at the St Regis Hotel on Saadiyat Island.

More than 1,000 C-level executives from across the world are expected to attend the forum which is to be hosted by Mubadala Development Company and organised by Streamline Marketing Group.

It will focus on the challenges of driving industrialisation and growth while adapting to global socio-economic change.

Homaid Al Shemmari, CEO of Aerospace and Engineering Services at Mubadala, said: “We look forward to hosting our peers and partners in Abu Dhabi and sharing with them the continuing story of our progress towards becoming a global industrial hub for aviation, aerospace, defence and space.

“Since its inaugural edition in 2012, the Global Aerospace Summit has become one of the world’s leading gatherings for senior executives from across the spectrum of these industries. This year’s summit will also have larger representation from emerging markets.”

The summit’s key themes will focus on workforce development and industrialisation, he said.

It will include sector-specific strategy seminars on the defence industry at closed door briefings, an Abu Dhabi supplier’s forum and a military, satellite and communications session. It will bring industry experts together to answer the challenges faced by the sector and shape future growth strategies.

Leaders from companies in both established and emerging markets will share their experiences of supporting industrialisation, improving supply chain standards and creating value-added jobs for highly skilled individuals.

“To maintain competitive and sustainable aerospace and engineering services sectors, we understand the need for a highly skilled science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) workforce. Our Emiratisation programme is not only focused on supporting the development of the next generation of national scientists, engineers and technicians but also on creating jobs across a range of professions,” said Al Shemmari.