The foreign direct investment team with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce announced the state’s participation at the upcoming Paris Air Show taking place outside of Paris, France,
June 17-23, 2019.
The delegation will be led by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and other dignitaries including:
• James Inhofe, United States Senator from Oklahoma
• Sean Kouplen, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development
• Dr. Kayse Shrum, Oklahoma Secretary of Science and Innovation
• Oklahoma State Senator Adam Pugh
• Oklahoma State Representative Scott Fetgatter
• Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum
• Brent Kisling, Executive Director, Oklahoma Department of Commerce
“Aerospace and defense is our fastest growing industry. Since 2015, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce has assisted with business announcements from aerospace companies totaling more than 7,000 new jobs and more than $700,000,000 in planned capital investment,” said Gov. Stitt. “These
international air shows are the only place where I can meet with the CEOs of all major US and foreign aerospace companies in one place, over three days. I am looking forward to taking Oklahoma to the world at the Paris Air Show and letting global aerospace leaders know that our state is open for business.”
The Paris Air Show, along with the Farnborough International Airshow, which alternate taking place every other year, are the largest and longest-running aerospace trade shows in the world. The two shows are at the very heart of business developments in the global aerospace market, attracting over 150,000 aerospace executives and companies. The event features high-level C-Suite meetings with all the major aerospace companies in the world.
Previous trips to the Paris Air Show and Farnborough International Airshow have led to job and investment announcements from companies, including:
• Kratos: Located to Oklahoma City and plans to employ 350 workers in its 75,000 square foot
facility
• ASCO Aerospace: Located in Stillwater and invested $60 million, employing 250 people.
• Cobham: Located at Tinker Air Force Base and plans to invest $20,000,000 and employ 20 people
• Numerous expansions of existing Oklahoma operations:
o L-3
o FlightSafety
o Boeing
o Spirit AeroSystems
o Triumph
o NORDAM
Follow-up reports from the Paris Airshow 2017 showed more than $3.1 million in future sales due to new business from the five Oklahoma companies that partnered with Commerce. The three companies that partnered with Commerce at last year’s Farnborough Airshow reported nearly $18 million in future
sales due to new contracts.
“By leading this delegation, Commerce helps Oklahoma companies attend the show who, without our support, would not be able to due to its cost,” said Kisling. “Through trade shows like this, we are opening doors for Oklahoma companies and helping them expand their trade potential.”
Oklahoma companies that will be part of the Paris Air Show delegation this year include:
• Consolidated Turbine Specialists
• Duncan Machine Works
• Ferra Aerospace
• Meta Special Aerospace
• MST Manufacturing
• Vantage Plane Plastics
• WHI
“Although this is the first time that MST Manufacturing will be attending the Paris Air Show, I am no stranger to the event,” said Kenneth Statton, MST Manufacturing. “I have attended this show with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce several times with my previous company and had extremely successful results each time. We are proud to represent our state’s aerospace industry and are confident our time will result in new business opportunities.”