Alabama Officials Seek Aerospace Investment at Paris Air Show
PARIS – A coalition of Alabama officials is optimistic that the state’s strong presence at the Paris Air Show, the world’s largest aerospace exhibition, will attract significant investment into its aerospace and defense sectors. The show kicked off on Monday, showcasing cutting-edge technologies from the industry.
Bob Smith, an aerospace specialist for Alabama’s Commerce Department, emphasized the state’s goals of strengthening relationships and enhancing its status as a key player in U.S. aerospace. "We’ve made substantial progress toward our objectives," Smith stated, looking forward to continued engagement throughout the event.
Alabama is represented by companies like SEA Wire and Cable, and Alabama Aerospace. SEA Wire, headquartered in Madison, supplies military-aerospace components, while Huntsville’s Alabama Aerospace focuses on tools and electromechanical parts for a variety of defense applications.
David Clark, general manager of Alabama Aerospace, shared his mission: "We provide flawless parts to the warfighter, astronaut, and sailor,” highlighting plans to expand exports and relationships in Europe.
Alabama boasts a remarkable presence in the aerospace field, ranking fourth nationally for aerospace engineers, with an impressive concentration in Huntsville. Over the past decade, the state has attracted more than $4 billion in aerospace-related investments, creating approximately 10,000 jobs from industry leaders like Airbus and Lockheed Martin.
Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair expressed her belief that the air show will enhance investment and job creation in Alabama. "Our sector is broad with competencies across the industry," she noted.
Alabama’s booth attracted attention from congressional members, including Senator Katie Britt and Rep. Mike Rogers, alongside U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller expressed optimism for further investments benefiting the local aerospace industry.
The air show concludes on Sunday, and Alabama officials anticipate forging valuable connections that could propel the state’s aerospace sector to new heights.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
