GIFAS Opens a Regional Office in Singapore

Singapore, February 4, 2026. GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales – French Aerospace Industries Association) is federating the France Pavilion at the 2026 edition of the Singapore Airshow, bringing together nearly 30 companies representing the core of the French aerospace industry. This occasion also marks the opening of a GIFAS regional office, based at Safran’s regional headquarters in Singapore. The GIFAS Southeast Asia French Aerospace Network (SEAFAN) will be chaired by David Dufrenois, ASEAN Regional Delegate and CEO of Safran Singapore, and coordinated by Amine Chehri, appointed Regional Coordinator by GIFAS.

A Dynamic Franco-Singaporean Collaboration

GIFAS’s decision to open a regional office in Singapore is part of a strategic approach, at a time when Franco-Singaporean relations are benefiting from an excellent level of cooperation at the highest political level.

Today, 30 GIFAS member companies, covering the entire value chain—from OEMs and system integrators to Tier 1 suppliers, as well as engineering services, digital solutions, and logistics providers—are established in Singapore. They represent more than 4,000 direct jobs, accounting for 18% of the global aerospace workforce present in Singapore.

French companies use Singapore not only as an operational base, but also as a strategic platform to address ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region, thereby strengthening Singapore’s role as a regional industrial and innovation hub while contributing to its trade surplus.

Expanding the French Industrial Footprint in Southeast Asia

The main objectives of this regional office will be to serve as a bridge between French and Singaporean industrial players, using Singapore as a hub for regional expansion, notably by:

• Identifying local needs and expectations in terms of partnerships
• Supporting French companies seeking to establish joint ventures (JVs) or greenfield operations in Singapore
• Assisting French and Singaporean companies with regulatory matters
• Organizing networking events

Toward Enhanced Cooperation in Civil and Defense Markets with Local Stakeholders

GIFAS will work on the development of a joint roadmap with its local sister organization, AAIS (Association of Aerospace Industries Singapore), covering both civil and military markets.

In civil aviation, given the growth in air transport, GIFAS aims to support the development of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities in Singapore. In line with the 2022 ICAO Assembly resolution targeting aviation carbon neutrality by 2050, France and Singapore have a key role to play. The production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), as well as new aircraft concepts and the optimization of air traffic management, are among the main priorities.

With regard to the defense industry, beyond the existing partnership between the French Air Force and the acquisition of French equipment by the Singapore Ministry of Defence, the primary axis of cooperation lies in innovation. French players operate several joint laboratories with local entities. GIFAS, with its 100 startups and its long-standing members—who reinvest an average of 9% of their revenue in R&D—will focus its efforts on supporting enhanced cooperation in the field of innovation.

With the development of a new space economy linked to multiple civil and defense applications, and a growing need for sovereign systems, GIFAS will work with its local partners to foster fruitful partnerships for the benefit of space sector stakeholders.

Opportunities for Cooperation in Industrial Capabilities and Performance

The ramp-up of production in both civil and defense sectors requires industrial capacities that create opportunities for new entrants. At the same time, the industry must improve the overall performance of its production tools. To achieve this objective, GIFAS has created Aero Excellence™ International, an initiative dedicated to strengthening industrial performance across the global aerospace supply chain.

Aero Excellence promotes operational excellence through a common assessment framework, combined with labels recognized by the aerospace community. Its objective is to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of suppliers worldwide. Singapore has been identified as a strategic partner offering strong opportunities for collaboration. To date, seven Singaporean suppliers have already joined the program.

(traduction en anglais d’un communiqué en français)

Source: GIFAS