News


WTC Arkansas Participates in Paris Air Show

Aug 16, 2019

Boon Tan, Senior Director at World Trade Center Arkansas, participated in the 53rd Paris Air Show with Governor Asa Hutchinson, on June 17th through the 23rd. Accompanying Governor Hutchinson and Mr. Tan were the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance, and Arkansas Aerospace companies. The Paris Air Show is the largest in the world, and Arkansas companies were able to showcase products and services to over 316,000 attendees from over 185 countries. This year, the Air Show had record participation with over 2,450 companies exhibiting.

The Arkansas Aerospace industry comprises $1.4 billion of total Arkansas exports. It is tremendously important to the Arkansas economy and is anticipated to grow over the next few years. When asked what it meant to Galley Support to attend the Paris Air show, Gina Radke, President and CEO, stated, “Having the ability to attend the Paris Airshow is a game-changer for SME’s. All of your current and potential customers from around the world are in one location. The WTC Arkansas helps us gain new customers by assisting in putting us at the table where business is being done.”

During the Air Show, Governor Hutchinson announced, Lockheed Martin was awarded a multi-million-dollar agreement to expand operations in Camden, Arkansas. This is a result of a contract awarded to Lockheed Martin from the Pentagon to manufacture advanced missile systems and equipment. Arkansas is projected to grow its ammunition exports by 5.9% this year. Chad Causey with Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance “This is exciting news for Arkansas and our aerospace and defense workforce,” said Causey. “The Governor and his team at AEDC deserve credit for working with Lockheed Martin to make this expansion a reality and Lockheed Martin’s investment is more proof that Arkansas is an emerging force in the aerospace and defense industries,” continued Causey