LANGKAWI: More than RM9 billion worth of deals were inked today at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (Lima), a record amount for the biennial show.
Seven contract documents and five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed, witnessed by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, whose ministry also gave out eight letters of acceptance (LoA) and six letters of intent (LoI).
The total amount for the deals came to RM9.3 billion.
The amount represented a 121 per cent jump from the RM4.2 billion worth of deals for the whole of the previous edition of Lima, in 2013.
Hishammuddin said this indicated that Lima, throughout the years, has continued to provide the ideal platform for maritime and aerospace businesses regionally and globally.
A massive chunk - two-thirds, in fact - of the RM9.3 billion came from one contract alone.
CTRM Aero Composites Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of CTRM, signed a RM6 billion deal with UTAC Aerospace of the United States to extend a contract to manufacture and supply composite components for Boeing B787 and Airbus A350 aircraft.
CTRM Aviation Sdn Bhd, meanwhile, signed a contract with the government pertaining to the repair and engineering capability for composites for the Royal Malaysian Air Force.
Other major contracts included one for the handover of an unspecified amount of unmanned aerial vehicles from Petronas to the armed forces, the supply of several Pilatus PC-7 turbo trainer aircraft from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd and amendment to the contract for the manufacture and delivery of parts and services for the RMAF's new strategic airlifter, the Airbus A400M, with Airbus Military Sociedad Limitada.