La., Ala. headed to Paris Air Show

1. BATON ROUGE, La. – Gov. John Bel Edwards will lead Louisiana Economic Development officials and business and health sciences leaders on an economic growth and diversification mission to France and Belgium this week. 
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3. While abroad, the governor will attend the Paris Air Show, the largest aerospace and aviation trade show in the world, and BIO Day, a gathering of Louisiana and Belgian bioscience business and research leaders. 
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5. The delegation will explore future business development and expansion opportunities with prospective and current international partners and top executives of major global corporations, focusing on the energy, aerospace and life sciences sectors. 
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7. The delegation includes LED Secretary Don Pierson, leaders from LED’s Office of International Commerce, LED’s Office of Business Development, the LED FastStart workforce development team, and members of the governor’s staff.
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9. Among the state entities represented during the life sciences portion of the mission will be Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge Health District, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Tulane University, Tulane University Medical Center, University of Louisiana Monroe, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and the Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy in Shreveport. 
10. Alabama delegation to Paris
11. The Alabama team heading to the 2023 Paris Air Show has a major focus on recruiting new aerospace jobs and investment, but this year’s mission has a wrinkle - helping statewide firms claim a spot on the international stage. The Alabama business development team's goal is to win new jobs and investments by expanding the state's industry’s base.
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13.  "Alabama has been involved in the aerospace industry at the highest levels for decades,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. 
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15. But, for the first time, three Alabama firms - Archangel Systems of Auburn; Adah International of Birmingham and Sealing Equipment Products Co., (SEPCO) of Alabaster - are attending the aerospace industry’s biggest trade event as part of an initiative to help small and medium-sized enterprises identify new markets. 
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17. Christina Stimpson, director of Alabama Department of Commerce’s Office of International Trade, said the “Made in the USA” SME Zone represents a promising new avenue for the state firms. “Made in the USA” SME Zone, created in collaboration with the State International Development Organizations (SIDO), is featuring 18 companies representing Alabama and six other states. 
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19. SIDO is the only national organization focused on supporting governors’ international trade agendas by serving and representing the 50 state trade agencies to the federal government. 
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21. The Alabama exhibitors each have about a dozen pre-qualified business-to-business meetings lined up at the trade show. The appointments were arranged by SIDO and Christoph Dörr, who directs the department’s European office in Stuttgart, Germany. (Alabama team at Paris Air Show seeks to amplify aerospace investment (madeinalabama.com) and Alabama firms make international connections at Paris Air Show (madeinalabama.com)