COMPANIES from Brighton, Shoreham, Worthing and Bognor took part in the Farnborough International Airshow.

The Department for International Trade South East stand provided an international shop window for the 16 firms.

They included:

l security and safety specialists Avsec Global, Bognor

l flight inspection firm Flight Calibration Services, Shoreham

l aviation and fuel management consultancy Saffron Star International, Brighton

l cost consultancy ISC Best Practice, Worthing.

Companies visiting the stand spoke with international trade advisers who were on hand to offer advice.

The airshow attracted more than 80,000 trade visitors.

There were deals worth $192 billion (£146 billion), an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to 2016.

The companies attended meet-the-buyer events and received visits from international delegations and trade teams from embassies and chamber of commerce from across the world.

The South East is home to 18 large aerospace companies and last year the region’s businesses operating in the sector generated £12.4 billion in turnover and 69,800 full time equivalent jobs, more than any other region.

Ben Raby, head of the South East Regional Trade Team, Department for International Trade, said: “This event was an unrivalled opportunity for South East businesses to show off the strength and diversity of their expertise in the aerospace sector.

“Our region is home to a wealth of internationally significant aerospace engineering businesses.”