Mary Fallin

Governor Fallin to lead OK Delegation to Paris Air Show in Support of Job-Creation Efforts

June 9, 2013
Release

Governor Mary Fallin and Oklahoma Science and Technology Secretary Stephen McKeever will lead a delegation of aerospace companies and economic development agencies to participate in the Paris Air Show. The 50th Annual Paris Air Show is taking place June 17-23, 2013. It is expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors and feature over 2,100 exhibitors representing 45 countries. The Paris Air Show is considered to be one of the premiere trade shows in the world.

More than 55 companies with a presence in Oklahoma will exhibit at the show. The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the Tulsa Regional Chamber and theBroken Arrow Chamber of Commerce will all be represented in the Oklahoma delegation.

The Oklahoma delegation has had great success at aerospace trade shows in the recent past. At last year’s Farnborough International Air Show, Fallin announced that Belgium-based ASCO was opening a new $60 million facility in Stillwater, OK. The facility is expected to create at least 250 jobs. Oklahoma companies who joined the delegation in 2012 also reported record sales and attributed part of their success to their participation at the show.

Already a recognized aerospace pioneer, Oklahoma has rapidly become a “fly-to” state for aerospace research, development, testing, training and education. Oklahoma also has unique and attractive resources in one of aerospace’s most exciting and rapidly growing sectors: unmanned aerial vehicles (Read: CNN Money: 9 States Poised to Dominate the Drone Economy). All of these assets will be showcased by a variety of Oklahoma companies at the upcoming air show.

Fallin said the presence of a state delegation at the show was an important tool for job-creation.

“My number one priority as governor is to bring good, high-paying and sustainable jobs to Oklahoma,” said Fallin. “The aerospace industry is an invaluable partner in that effort. There are more than143,000 Oklahomans working in aerospace-related jobs, most of which pay significantly more than the average salary.” “To retain these jobs, and to make sure we attract more, Oklahoma needs a strong presence at international hubs for business like the Paris Air Show. These are prime locations to showcase our unique assets and to attract multinational aerospace and defense companies to the state.

I look forward to leading the Oklahoma delegation on this trip as we work to support the aerospace industry and bring more jobs and investment to the state.” Oklahoma companies that will be part of the delegation attending this year’s Paris Air Show include:

• Enviro Systems Inc. (Seminole)
• Pro-Fab, Inc. (Oklahoma City)
• SpectrumFX, Inc. (Tulsa)
• Janeway Machine Inc.(Sapulpa)
• Design Intelligence Incorporated, LLC (Norman)
• Choctaw Defense (McAlester) • Vertical Aerospace (Bristow)
• Oklahoma State University-University Multispectral Laboratories (Ponca City-Stillwater)

Export and global investment activity continue to help fuel the economic engine of Oklahoma. Global companies are responsible for more than 36,000 jobs in the state.

In 2012, Oklahoma exports accounted for more than $6.6 billion, with aerospace-related products accounting for the largest segment of the exports. Also in 2012, 13 internationally owned companies publicly announced new and expanding investments in Oklahoma, and they are expected to add more than 1,550 jobs.

The Paris Air Show mission is partially funded by the Oklahoma Business Roundtable. The Oklahoma Business Roundtable is Oklahoma’s primary economic development support organization. The Roundtable accomplishes this by providing critical private funding in support of the economic development efforts of the governor, lieutenant governor and Oklahoma Department of Commerce by encouraging business investment and jobs in Oklahoma.

Partial funding to offset the cost of small Oklahoma companies to attend the trade show is also provided by the State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program, a federal 3-year pilot trade and export initiative authorized by the U.S. Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.

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