KOTRA Supports Aerospace Materials and Components Entry into the US Market

GP Day for Bell Textron Defense to be Held for Four Days Starting from the 16th

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Yeju] KOTRA announced on the 17th that it will hold the 'Bell Textron Defense Global Partnering (GP) Day' in Busan and Sacheon, Gyeongnam, to support the entry of small and medium-sized enterprises in the aerospace materials, parts, and equipment sector into the U.S. market.

Bell Textron is one of the top three helicopter manufacturers in the United States and a global company that developed the world's first civilian helicopter. In Korea, it is known as the manufacturer of the first presidential helicopter (UH-1H) and the medical evacuation helicopter (H-13) used during the Korean War.

Through this event, 12 domestic companies, identified in collaboration with KOTRA's Dallas Trade Center in the U.S., were visited directly by Bell headquarters' key technical executives who conducted in-depth consultations with each company and simultaneously inspected manufacturing facilities. Notably, two companies supplying major parts signed business agreements on-site for supplying key components worth $16 million.

John Lichtenfeld, Bell's Senior Team Leader, stated, "Bell and Korea have maintained a cooperative relationship for over 50 years, and Korea is an important partner in the aerospace industry. We plan to build additional partnerships with Korean companies going forward."

Jung Seokjin, Head of KOTRA's Defense Materials Trade Support Center, explained, "The defense market has high entry barriers, but if successful, it is a market where stable demand and references can be secured. We will actively support the overseas market entry of domestic small and medium-sized enterprises in the defense materials, parts, and equipment sector through future defense GP projects."