Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance and Aéro Montréal Sign Strategic Collaboration Agreement at the Farnborough International Air Show

FARNBOROUGH (UK) – July 10 2012 — The Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA), the Northwest’s source for aerospace services and information, and Aéro Montréal, Québec’s aerospace cluster, signed a framework agreement on cooperation during the Farnborough International Airshow on July 10th.

Governor Christine Gregoire, Rogers Weed, Director of the Washington State Department of Commerce and Quebec’s Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Sam Hamad, were on hand to celebrate the signing.  “I applaud this important collaboration between PNAA and Aero Montreal for the great opportunity it represents to further strengthen the competitive position of our North American aerospace industry. Agreements like this create new growth potential and jobs for the 720 supply chain companies here in Washington state and their fellow sector members in Canada,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The agreement allows the organizations to exchange information about programs and initiatives, and their respective member’s needs and capabilities. The organizations will study the supply chains to explore how both clusters could better integrate and leverage each other’s core competencies to develop complementary value chains. The agreement will also encompass the possibility of taking part in local and international projects and business-to-business events to benefit both clusters’ members, as well as reciprocal support for research projects undertaken by cluster members.

PNAA Chairman Kevin Steck, explained that “with this agreement the businesses of both of our clusters will be better able to share ideas and business opportunities.”  Suzanne Benoît, president of Aéro Montréal, welcomed the initiative saying it will create strong opportunities for the Québec’s aerospace industry as Montréal and Seattle are two of the three world aerospace capitals. “We share similar objectives for our respective members and strongly believe in the potential of sharing best practices and mutual challenges, mainly in the area of supply chain optimization,” she said.

“The signing of this cooperation agreement demonstrates a proactive leadership of the Québec’s aerospace industry,” said Sam Hamad, Québec Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade. “This is a renewed opportunity for the sector to benefit from the expertise of a strategic partner and build bridges between Quebec’s and Washington State’s companies.”
PNAA and Aero-Montreal signed an initial Letter of Intent during the Seattle Aerospace and Defense Supplier’s Summit in March.

Aéro Montréal, accompanied by several SMEs involved in the MACH initiative – which aims at reinforcing supply chain competitiveness – emphasized its enthusiasm regarding the forthcoming agreement. “The possibility to take part in local and international projects that this alliance will bring about represents great opportunities for our industry” explained Suzanne M. Benoit, president of Aéro Montréal.

About Aéro Montréal
Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, is a strategic think tank that groups all the major decision makers in Québec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, associations and unions.
Aéro Montréal's mission is to mobilize industry players around common goals and concerted actions to increase the cohesion and optimize competitiveness of Québec’s aerospace cluster. It aims to foster the growth and expansion of the cluster so as to ensure that it may continue to create wealth for Montréal, Québec and Canada. To find out more about Aéro Montréal, visit www.aeromontreal.ca.