Aéro Montréal and Skywin Wallonie Solidify Relationship with the Signing of a New Strategic Collaboration Agreement

The MACH Initiative at the center of discussions

LE BOURGET, France, June 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, signed a third collaboration agreement  with the Pôle de compétitivité aéronautique et spatial "Skywin Wallonie" during the Paris Air Show (Salon international de l'aéronautique et de l'espace Paris - Le Bourget). Following the signing, the two organizations will conduct an immediate feasibility study for the deployment of the MACH Initiative in Wallonia. This agreement is based on a common project approved at the end of March 2013 by the Wallonia-Brussels and Québec committee supporting and valuing collaboration between the two entities.

"This is the first step to emulate the MACH Initiative outside of our borders," said Ms Suzanne M. Benoît, President of Aéro Montréal. "This new international recognition of the initiative will promote the establishment of the MACH performance label as a guarantee of quality to world-class prime contractors."

"This agreement is a unique occasion for Walloon SMEs to acquire superior experience and to increase accessibly to a market as competitive as aerospace," declared Mr. Etienne Pourbaix, Director of Skywin Wallonie. Skywin was highly impressed by the quality of the MACH Initiative developed in Québec, and hopes this new collaboration with Aéro Montréal will bring similar benefits to Walloon companies"

"The signing of this cooperation agreement clearly demonstrates the reputation of Aéro Montréal's MACH Initiative internationally," said Mr. Nicolas Marceau, Québec Minister of Finance and the Economy. "It is excellent news for Québec SMEs, who will benefit from cooperation between supply chains in Québec and Wallonia to gain greater access to the European aerospace market."

Seven years after the launch of the Walloon Competitiveness clusters, Jean-Claude Marcourt, Vice President and Wallonia Minister of Economy, welcomes the development of these first-rate organizations. They are now considered world-class partners. He congratulated the Skywin Pole, a growth catalyst and accelerator for SMEs in aeronautics and aerospace. "We have developed a world unique technology expertise: aircraft engines, wing leading edges, telescopes, flight simulators... This cutting-edge expertise is now called 'Made in Wallonia'."

"Through this strategic partnership, Aéro Montréal and Skywin will undertake innovative joint projects and open the doors of their markets, high-potential markets for our companies," explained Jean-Claude Marcourt.

About the signatories of the agreement

Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, is a strategic think tank that groups all the major decision makers in Québec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, associations and unions.

Aéro Montréal's mission is to mobilize industry players around common goals and concerted actions to increase the cohesion and optimize competitiveness of Québec's aerospace cluster. It aims to foster the growth and expansion of the cluster so as to ensure that it may continue to create wealth for Montréal, Québec and Canada.

SKYWIN Wallonia

The Belgian aerospace cluster "Skywin Wallonie" is a group of companies, training centers and research units engaged in public and private partnership and building synergies around common and innovative projects in the Walloon region of Belgium

As a competitiveness cluster, Skywin's objective is to foster and promote the technological advance of Walloon aerospace companies and therefore supply competitive products and services, which are the mainstay of business development.

SOURCE: Aéro Montréal

For further information:

Amélie Hudon
Director, Communications and Strategy
Aéro Montréal
Tel : + 1 514 987 9334
Cell: + 1 514 262 8417
[email protected]

Vincent Marchal
Deputy Director, Internationalisation
Skywin Wallonie
Tel: [phone]
Cell: + 32 472 57 52 60
[email protected]