Regional Business Opportunities from Paris Air Show

Last week I wrote about the opportunities for the companies
that joined the EDC at the Massachusetts stand at the Paris Air Show -- http://news.westernmassedc.com/articles/1303007/massachusetts-companies-at-the-paris-air-show/
But we also joined with the Hartford-Springfield Economic
Partnership and the State of Connecticut in a lead generation initiative for
New England’s Knowledge Corridor©. We met with over 20 international companies (from
France, Germany, Austria, Norway, Israel, Italy, even Liechtenstein) that have
an interest in the US market. Some need a US presence in order to be able to
compete for US DOD military contracts. Some are following Airbus, which is
opening its first US facility in Alabama. Some are seeking better growth
opportunities than they foresee in Europe. Some are looking for US partners for
joint ventures or to license their technology for the US market. And some are
looking to augment their US supply chain.
We presented the Knowledge Corridor value proposition for
the aerospace industry, which is particularly strong given the supply chain and
service providers here. Once again it was our experience that European firms
perceive the general New England business value proposition to be much stronger
than American firms located in lower cost or right-to-work states. And while significant
investment projects remain few and far between, there are mid-term investment opportunities
and definitely shorter term partnership or supply chain opportunities that will
benefit regional firms.
Michael Graney m.graney@westernmassedc.com
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