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Red Deer airport officials and local mayors to attend Paris Air Show

Central Alberta’s potential as a transportation hub to be pitched
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Visitors walk past a Boeing 737-800 BCF Amazon “Prime Air” cargo plane at the 2019 Paris Air Show. The mayors of City of Red Deer and Red Deer County are joining Red Deer Regional Airport officials at this year’s show to pitch the region’s potential as a transportation hub. (File photo by The Associated Press)

Red Deer Regional Airport will pitch its potential as a transportation hub with help from local mayors at the Paris Air Show next week.

City of Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston and Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood will be joined by airport representatives on the provincial government-organized trip to attend the show in Paris, France, that runs June 19-25. The first four days of the event are a trade show geared to aviation industry players followed by a three-day public event.

The mayors plan to meet with government officials, industry leaders and potential investors as they promote central Alberta’s strategic advantages, including its central location, skilled workforce, diverse economy and welcoming business environment, says a joint city and county news release on Thursday.

“Mayor Wood and I will be planting seeds that Central Alberta is the preferred place of doing business in Alberta, that we are an emerging logistics hub, and we are preparing Red Deer for an exciting future,” said Johnston. “Paris, with its vibrant economy and position as a global business center, provides an ideal platform for us to share the unique opportunities and advantages Central Alberta offers.

“By participating in this economic development trip and attending the airshow, we aim to foster new relationships, explore investment prospects, and attract global enterprises to our doorstep.”

Wood said in his 19 years as a county councillor and mayor he’s seen tremendous growth and development led by local businesses and entrepreneurs.

“Central Alberta has become a hub of economic activity, attracting investments, and creating jobs. We are now taking the next step to highlight the immense potential of our region to international partners and the partnerships forged during this trip will pave the way for increased trade, knowledge exchange, and collaboration, leading to mutual benefits for all involved,” said Wood.

The cost of the trip is being picked up by the airport, city and county with a large portion personally covered by the mayors.

The Paris Air Show is one of the largest gatherings of aviation industry players. This year’s show has more than 2,400 vendors from nearly 50 countries.



Paul Cowley

About the Author: Paul Cowley

Paul grew up in Brampton, Ont. and began his journalism career in 1990 at the Alaska Highway News in Fort. St. John, B.C.
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