Hyderabad, March 2 (IANS) Some 200 domestic and global players in the aerospace industry including big names such as Airbus, Boeing, Bell, Thales and Dassault are participating in the five-day India Aviation 2010 exposition here starting Wednesday.

Hosted by the federal civil aviation ministry, France will be the partner country at the exposition, the second since 2008, which is expected to attract over 500 delegates from 17 countries.

'This will be a show of the country's aviation industry and the potential it holds for the future,' said Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who is scheduled to inaugurate the exposition along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah.

'The show will also act as a stimulus in providing the much needed business opportunity to the stakeholders in the industry to tide over the current recessionary times.'

Industry body Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) will be the co-hosts for the event. The theme of the event India Aviation 2010 is 'Expanding Horizons'.