DAY 2: Activities at the 2019 International Paris Air Show are in full swing, highlighted by a standing-room-only partnership event at the Choose Washington booth and punctuated again by numerous productive procurement meetings between Washington companies in our delegation and potential global business partners.
Representatives of companies from one of Europe’s largest aerospace clusters in Northern Ireland packed the meeting room for a networking and pitch event with members of our delegation. These events strengthen existing partnerships and produce excellent new opportunities between the two regions.
Brian Canfield, chief executive officer and executive director of the Pacific Northwest Aersospace Alliance (PNAA) said, “I enjoyed the second day at the Paris Air Show and the highlight was meeting with cluster organizers in Europe that introduced me to current and prospective members. It was very valuable. It brings companies from Europe to our annual PNAA conference, building relationships and business opportunities, channeling business between Washington state and other countries.”
Washington companies also participated in another non-stop day of meetings, learning more about current and future needs and procurement processes of global companies such as:
Latecoere, a 100-year old aerospace group based in Toulouse, France; AKKA, an aerospace and automotive manufacturing technology giant with more than 16,000 employees in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and North America; and GKN, a British multinational design and manufacturer of aerospace and engine components with offices in 15 countries including GKN Aerospace in Sumner, WA.
Tomorrow, July 19, Greater Seattle Partners is hosting an event at 2 p.m. local time at the USA Partnership Pavilion LaunchPad, Hall 3-B79, featuring Richard Aboulafia, vice president of the Teal Group. Aboulafia will comment on the newly-released 2019 Aerospace Competitive Economics Study which again recognizes Washington as the #1 place for aerospace in the U.S. The findings of the report will be released in full later this year. This event will also feature Washington Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib, state Commerce Director Dr. Lisa Brown, and Mr. Roei Ganzarski, CEO of MagniX, who will share how businesses can join Washington’s aerospace supercluster.
Learn more about the Choose Washington delegation to the 2019 Paris Air Show here or by following us on twitter @WAStateCommerce #PAS19.