GOVERNOR SEBELIUS, KERR TO LEAD KANSAS DELEGATION TO FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW
- Mission is to promote Kansas aviation interests, encourage investment in Kansas

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

July 10, 2008

Governor Kathleen Sebelius will lead a delegation of economic development and business leaders to the Farnborough Air Show in England July 14-20 to promote the Kansas aviation industry and encourage investment in Kansas by global aviation companies.

Joining the Governor on the trip are Kansas Secretary of Commerce David D. Kerr, University of Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway and executives from ICE Corporation (Manhattan), Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition, Global Ground Support (Olathe) and Nex-Tech Aerospace (Wichita). Company executives will exhibit at a Kansas trade show booth sponsored by the Kansas Department of Commerce and the participating companies.

“100 years ago Clyde Cessna and Walter Beech came to Kansas, joined an emerging industry, and made history. Today, more than 50 percent of the airplanes flown in the world are made right here in Kansas, and our economy, our state and our country have benefited from their innovation and determination,” Sebelius said. “With our Economic Revitalization and Reinvestment Act, we’ve continued to grow and support the aerospace industry and I look forward to promoting Kansas’ strength in the global marketplace.”

The Farnborough Air Show is one of the largest international aerospace trade shows in the world, featuring nearly 1,500 exhibiting companies from 35 countries. In 2006, 270,000 visitors attended the seven-day event. This year will be the 60th anniversary of the show, which started in 1948 and is currently held every other year in rotation with the Paris Air Show. The Air Show is organized by the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), the UK's national trade association representing companies supplying civil air transport, defense, homeland security and space. Together with its regional partners, SBAC represents over 2,600 companies. For more information, visit http://www.farnborough.com.

In addition to promoting Kansas at the trade show, Governor Sebelius will:

Be a guest of the Society of British Aerospace Companies during her visit, which includes hosting at the show, as well as invitations to events such as the SBAC Parliamentary Reception, SBAC VIP Lunch and FIA 2008 Welcome Reception. These events will provide access to top-level aviation executives with U.S. interests and potential for future investment in Kansas, as well as trade opportunities for Kansas companies. Be a guest of the British government and is expected to meet with UK Minister for Trade and Investment, Lord Digby Jones. Participate in a trip to Nottingham in partnership with the University of Kansas to meet with University of Nottingham officials and executives from England-based biotech company OncImmune, which has offices in Kansas. Nottingham is home to one of the UK’s largest bioscience clusters and the country’s top pharmacy retail chain.