Boeing 2006 Annual Report Download - page 19

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We are steadily expanding our global
business by accessing new markets
and engaging in new partnerships
and business opportunities.
International markets, which in 2006
accounted for 37.4 percent of revenues,
continue to provide significant growth
opportunities for Boeing. The forecast
for the Asia-Pacific region alone is for a
market of about 7,200 new airplanes
worth $770 billion over the next 20
years. Our new maintenance, repair and
overhaul facilities in India and Boeing
Shanghai Aviation Services (a new joint
venture between Boeing the Shanghai
Airport Authority and Shanghai Airlines)
will leverage service growth opportunities
in these areas.
In the Middle East, through Boeing
Industrial Technology Group, we are
working with companies such as
Alsalam Aircraft Company to provide
skilled maintenance, repair and overhaul
support for growing commercial airplane
services in the region.
Boeing subsidiaries such as Boeing
Australia Limited, Jeppesen, Alteon and
Aviall are creating growth opportunities
by extending our ability to support and
maintain commercial airplanes and
deliver high-tech defense aerospace and
communications systems and services
for customers worldwide.
While U.S. defense budgets may begin
to moderate, Boeing is well-positioned
for continued growth in international
defense sales. Emerging opportunities
include F/A-18 and P-8A sales in India;
additional sales of the F-15 to Korea,
Singapore and Japan; and international
interest in the C-17.
We continue to enhance our
competitiveness by leveraging
technology, improving efficiency
and influencing the global busi-
ness environment by addressing
political and regulatory issues.
Technology development partnerships
with universities, industries and govern-
ment R&D organizations around the
world will continue to enhance our ability
to innovate and introduce technologies
that open opportunities for growth.
Global supplier partnerships are critical
to the success of programs such as the
787 Dreamliner, which includes suppliers
and partners from more than a dozen
countries. We continue to lower operating
costs and strengthen our local supplier
base by identifying new business partners
through supplier conferences such as
those we held in India and Canada in 2006.
Boeing Capital Corporation and Boeing
International play important roles in sup-
porting both commercial and defense
sales campaigns. In addition to identifying
and arranging financing solutions, Boeing
Capital is helping to level the playing field
in international markets by spearheading
global industry initiatives to improve the
international financing infrastructure for
financiers and customers in the long term.
Through Boeing International, we are
going beyond identifying emerging busi-
ness opportunities by strengthening our
leadership in various countries. We’re
using the knowledge and experience of
in-country experts to develop local part-
nerships and enhance our understanding
of alignment opportunities, potential off-
set agreements, industrial arrangements
and country-to-country relations. By
doing so, we are transforming Boeing
from a successful U.S. exporter to an
even more successful global company.
Global strategic partners, including Boeing companies and subsidiaries, are helping
us lower operating costs and deliver the best products and services to meet our
customers’ changing needs. Hawker de Havilland, a Boeing company in Australia,
produces the composite wing trailing edge components for the 787 Dreamliner.