Leonardo and Fincantieri have signed new contracts in China. In detail, the defense group has signed an agreement for 15 AW139 helicopters through its subsidiary Sino-US Intercontinental Helicopter Investment. This was announced by the group on the occasion of the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Labour, Luigi Di Maio.
The helicopters will be delivered between 2019 and 2021 and used by Kingwing General Aviation (Kingwing) for air rescue duties in China. These orders, which strengthen the collaboration between Leonardo and Sino-US in the country, add to the various previous contracts, in particular for air ambulances, signed by the same customer in recent years and including 34 AW119Kx, 24 AW139 and 25 AW109 Trekker.
Leonardo and Sino-US have also announced the signing of a framework agreement to further strengthen the partnership in the long term: Sino-US confirms its role as exclusive distributor in China for Leonardo's helicopters for civil and commercial uses, with a plan purchase and delivery of a further 160 machines, of various models, in the period 2019-2023.
The agreement also provides for the construction of an authorized training center in China and the creation of a center for the customization and installation of mission equipment on Leonardo helicopters delivered to the country.
As for Fincantieri, the shipbuilding group has signed the contract in China that defines the cruise park project in the Baoshan district in Shanghai. The CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, and the mayor of the Baoshan district of the city of Shanghai, Fan Shaojun, signed the contracts relating to the creation of an industry hub, mainly dedicated to cruise activities, but also shipbuilding and maritime, as part of the development of these sectors initiated by China.
Within the framework of the agreements between Fincantieri, CSSC and Carnival Corporation announced in February 2017 and relating to the construction of two cruise ships, the first units of this kind ever built in China for the local market, the note specifies, the hub will act as a dock industry to feed this production.
