Governor Josh Stein, North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina recently traveled to Paris to participate in the 55th edition of the Paris Air Show. The visit aimed to promote North Carolina’s aerospace industry and strengthen ties with international business leaders.
“North Carolina is first in flight, and we are the future of flight,” stated Governor Stein. He emphasized that the state is a hub for aerospace innovation and highlighted the importance of fostering relationships with international companies. “We had a productive economic development trip telling the world why North Carolina is the best place to do business.”
Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley noted, “North Carolina’s network of businesses and strong economic infrastructure draw companies from across the world to invest in our state.” He mentioned that the Paris Air Show presented opportunities for new companies to establish themselves in North Carolina and for existing ones to expand their operations.
The Paris Air Show is recognized as the world’s largest aerospace event, attracting 2,500 exhibitors from 48 countries and approximately 300,000 visitors. North Carolina hosts around 400 aerospace companies contributing $88 billion annually, including Airbus, which employs over 500 workers at its Kinston facility.
Recently, Governor Stein announced JetZero’s decision to build a manufacturing hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI), marking it as the state’s largest jobs commitment with over $4.7 billion investment and 14,000 jobs. Other aerospace firms like Boom and HondaJet are also establishing operations at PTI.
Guilford Technical Community College plans a $35 million aviation training facility to support workforce growth in response to industry demand. Over the past decade, French companies have significantly invested in North Carolina, leading to substantial job creation.
