Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced recently that is expanding its civilian activities and is establishing, for the first time in its history, an academy for technical aviation professions in China.

IAI has signed a US$10 million contract with the city of Shantou in Guangdong Province to build a training centre where Israeli teams will teach the Chinese to maintain passenger aircraft.

The contract was signed as part of a conference for business co-operation between Israel and Guangdong Province. IAI also signed an agreement with Gwangju Port in the province to build a robot that will increase the efficiency of container storage.

“This is an important breakthrough in light of the accelerated development of China’s civil aviation,” said Gadi Cohen, Vice President and Director of Civil Society at IAI.