Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Advocates for Missouri Boeing Workers, Products on Trade Mission
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today met with officials of The Boeing Company in an effort to promote international support and sales for Missouri-built Boeing products such as the F-15, F/A-18 and major parts of the C-17. The governor joined Boeing officials and a group of Missouri businesses attending the 47th International Paris Air Show to help promote their products.
"I am committed to protecting Missouri jobs including the nearly 16,000 Boeing jobs in Missouri," Gov. Blunt said. "I had the opportunity to meet today with Boeing officials including Jim Albaugh, the president and chief executive officer of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. We had a productive meeting about how we can continue partnering to promote the international sales of Boeing products which will help sustain the Boeing workforce and Missouri jobs. When we collaboratively work with our trading partners, Missouri can continue to grow its economy and will strengthen its position in the global marketplace."
In addition to Albaugh, Gov. Blunt met with Chris Chadwick, Vice President, General Manager of IDS Global Strike Systems, and Dan Korte, Vice President of Supplier Management & Procurement for IDS, which is headquartered in St. Louis.
"The Paris Air Show is an internationally renowned showcase of aircraft and aviation technology that touches the lives of all Missourians, from the military aircraft that Missouri's men and women in the armed forces rely on every day, to the commercial aircraft that we all fly on," said Albaugh. "We welcome Governor Blunt's efforts here to promote Boeing products built by highly skilled Missouri workers."
In addition to advocating for Boeing St. Louis platforms, Governor Blunt is meeting with GKN and Essex Industries on the trade mission. Blunt will also meet with other companies in an effort to recruit them to set up operations in Missouri.
The Hawthorn Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide organization formed to assist both public and private efforts in promoting Missouri's economic development initiatives is sponsoring the trade mission.