The Paris Air Show, along with its sister show in
Farnborough UK (held in alternate years), is the premier aerospace trade show in
the world. Boeing and Airbus will each announce the sale of several hundred
aircraft during this show. The full global supply chain for the industry attends.
Western Mass is full of globally competitive aerospace manufacturers. Some
wanted to exhibit at the show in a Massachusetts pavilion. State and country
pavilions are common practices at the large European trade shows, but
Massachusetts has not had a presence at this show for many years. So they asked
the EDC for support.

Although space was officially “sold out” in the US pavilion,
the EDC was able to acquire a space for three companies. We agreed to
coordinate the administration of the Massachusetts Pavilion and Hoppe
Technologies (Chicopee), Aimtek (Auburn) and Westfield Electroplating will join
us representing our aerospace manufacturing cluster. We are pleased to host
them and confident that we can grow the pavilion with more companies
participating in future years.

In addition, the EDC will participate in a lead generation
exercise with the Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership to recruit international
companies to the Knowledge Corridor aerospace cluster. We find that these two
activities reinforce each other at trade shows. The presence of the companies demonstrates
the quality of our cluster and provides tangible evidence to prospects that they
will be joining a robust supply chain. And the connection to the global companies
provides sales opportunities for our regional firms.

For more information about the opportunities available at
the Paris Air Show or to inquire about collaboration at other international or
domestic trade shows, please contact EDC Senior VP of Business Development Mike
Graney at 413-755-1300 or m.graney@westernmassedc.com.