by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Forty-eight countries represented by 2,000 exhibitors. Six exhibit halls with 27 national pavilions. Three days of business-to-business forums presented by 400 companies and 100 prime contractors. All of that is set up for more than 154,000 trade visitors from all over the world.
That’s the business side of the Paris Air Show taking place this week in Le Bourget, France. The first four days of the show aren’t even open to the public — the traditional flight demonstration portion of the program doesn’t start until tomorrow and ends Sunday.
“To call it an air show doesn’t begin to describe it. It’s not like the air shows we have here,” said Michael Stewart, director of external affairs for the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. “Paris is a trade show and our purpose in being there is to distinguish ourselves among our competitors. Jacksonville has to be at the table if we’re competing.”
Representatives from JAA, the Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and a contingent of City officials including Mayor John Peyton and City Council President-elect Richard Clark traveled to France for the trade show segment that began Monday. They have been meeting, greeting and selling what Jacksonville has to offer to hundreds of international firms.
“This conference of aviation and aerospace companies has been wonderful,” said Cornerstone President Jerry Mallot Tuesday as he was returning to Paris from Le Bourget. “We have been able to meet company after company that we would have to travel far and wide to see. We probably, in many cases, couldn’t even get an appointment with these companies except in an environment like this. We’re working on several projects that we’re involved with and people are ready to talk and they’re interested in what we have to say.”
This isn’t the first time a delegation from Jacksonville has traveled to Paris for the show. The trade mission got on the agenda when the U.S. Navy transferred its master jet base in Jacksonville to the City 10 years ago.
“It’s not about coming home with a contract,” said Stewart. “It’s about developing relationships. Two years ago when Alenia announced they would build the C27J (military transport aircraft) at Cecil Field, that was because we were in Paris four years ago. Alenia was familiar with the facility and the people involved.
“If we weren’t developing Cecil Field, there would be no reason to go to the Paris Air Show. Cecil Field is a piece of infrastructure that’s the envy of other aviation authorities.”
Mallot and Cornerstone Senior Vice President of Business Development John Haley are in Paris for meetings with companies already in talks to bring business to Jacksonville.
“We’re able to work on several projects with the people who are involved and we’re able to do it all in the space of a few days,” said Mallot.
Having City officials available for meetings, receptions and networking is an advantage for the Jacksonville delegation. It’s also considered an obligation.
“Especially in these economic times, the benefits that can come from an event like this are even more important than ever to continue to market Jacksonville and compete globally,” said mayoral spokesperson Kristen Beach. “This is a unique opportunity for Mayor Peyton to network directly with the world’s largest gathering of industry leaders in aviation, aerospace and defense. He is also speaking to other businesses located in the geographic area.
“In other parts of the world, particularly in Europe, political leaders are often regarded highly, which gives the mayor the chance to sell Jacksonville directly to leaders of numerous corporations.”
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