By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) is traveling to Paris for the Air Show there in search of more aerospace jobs for the state of Alabama, particulary Airbus suppliers. Traveling with Gov. Bentley is Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield and the Commerce Department’s Assistant Director of Business Development Bob Smith.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said on Facebook,”The Paris Air Show will give us opportunities to expand our aerospace industry and add more “Made In Alabama” products across the country. Job creation remains my number one priority.”
Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield (R) said in a written statement, “Our goals are to continue to build relationships with companies that may be creating stateside operations to support the Airbus A320 final assembly line and to further penetrate the aerospace sector independent of Airbus.”
Bentley and his team will meet with representatives of more than 20 companies in three days.
Gov. Bentley said in a written statement, “A lot of what we will be doing is critical relationship-building. We know who the companies are, and we will be talking to them. Being successful at this is a matter of relationships and the opportunities created by those relationships.”
Airbus has begun construction of its first North American assembly plant at Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile. The aerospace giant will be building its popular A320 passenger airliner there. Various other Alabama leaders, economic development experts, and local officials will be joining Bentley and his team.
The Paris Air Show will run from Monday, June 17 through Sunday, June 23. The Paris Air Show which is held at Le Bourget Airport and the Farnborough International Air Show near London are the aerospace industry’s two primary trade events every year.
Bentley said that, “Aerospace is one of our 11 target sectors in the Accelerate Alabama strategic growth plan, and we are attempting to build on the momentum from the Airbus project and other positive developments in this important sector.”
The Department of Commerce says that there are 83,000 jobs at over 300 aerospace and aviation companies and organizations in Alabama.
