Posted Jun 20, 2007, 2:48 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Birmingham, Alabama USA
Posts: 505
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Où est Birmingham?
Alabama making an impression in Paris
State earning reputation as good place to operate
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
DAWN KENT
News staff writer
PARIS -- On streets where Chanel, Gucci and Cartier are household names, Alabama is forging a reputation of its own.
This fashion capital played host this week to a delegation of state residents and officials, in town to attend the Paris Air Show. They also built on a foundation as a partner for companies based in France.
Philippe Audibert, a trade attache for the French embassy in Atlanta, helps French companies expand in the southeastern United States and is working to bring suppliers to support Hyundai.
"It's amazing what's happening in Alabama," said Audibert, who attended a Sunday reception given by Huntsville-area governments and civic groups. "Great people. Great land. Great place to invest."
There are currently 21 French-owned companies operating in the state, according to Alabama Development Office Director Neal Wade.
Audibert was impressed by the crowd at a reception hall along the Seine. French companies typically look to the Northeast when they want to expand in the United States, because they don't know about the Southeast, he said.
"You need to promote it, because it's a great place and a great region," Audibert said, adding that the low cost of doing business and proximity to a Gulf Coast port in Mobile are advantages for the automotive and aerospace companies he works with.
Promotion has been the goal of Gov. Bob Riley and a team of economic developers who are working the air show, a world stage for the aerospace and aviation industries.
Teamwork has been key to their strategy, with economic developers from across the state fanning out among nearly 2,000 exhibitors at the air show.
In addition, Huntsville and Mobile brought individual delegations of city and county leaders, as well as private citizens, who rubbed elbows during weekend receptions with executives of industries such as Raytheon, Northrop Grumman Corp. and EADS North America.
Birmingham does not have the representation in Paris like that of its counterparts. Riley said he has not talked to local leaders about it, but he imagines there is not a specific project they are targeting.
However, Riley said, Birmingham has a substantial aerospace presence with aircraft refurbisher Pemco Aeroplex Inc., among other companies, and the sector could be a major part of business expansion in the city.
In addition to the reception, Huntsville leaders had a series of meetings set up at the air show. Some of the companies already do business in the city, and some are companies that Huntsville leaders want there, said Jeff Sikes, chairman of the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority.
At Mobile's reception, held Saturday, Mayor Sam Jones said 46 private citizens traveled to Paris at their own expense to be a part of promoting their community. Among them are lawyers, contractors, architects, engineers and consultants.
"They know that when Mobile grows, they grow," Jones said.
Marc Pelham, Brookley Complex director for the Mobile Airport Authority, said regional cooperation is key to recruiting industry.
"Having our whole community get involved in this process really gives them a sense of what's possible when we work together," he said.
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