DCNS to expand business in Asia Pacific

DCNS has described the setting up of local partnerships as a key element of its business strategy for expanding its presence in Asia, a regional executive of the French naval shipbuilder told Jane's on 4 November.

Eric Lassalle, managing director of DCNS in Singapore, said the region was considered by the company "as a future centre for defence business". He added: "The defence market in the Asia Pacific should be, in about 2016, a major market - even above the US."

In order to be well positioned for expansion, he said, DCNS was looking to consolidate its existing businesses in India, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan while also attempting to break into the naval markets of surrounding nations. Setting up relationships with local industries was a central plank of this strategy, he added.

"The priority is to consolidate," said Lassalle at the Asia Security and Defence 2009 show in Bangkok on 4 November. "If you want to build a bigger building you have to consolidate its foundations.

"In Asia, our markets are currently India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand. In those countries, first of all we work with the clients and we have to satisfy those clients. So that means we have to complete the job on time and on budget."