Aéro Montréal signs two strategic collaboration agreements; First step towards a Québec-New England Corridor

MONTREAL, Dec. 2, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Aéro Montréal, Québec's aerospace cluster, signed two framework agreements for cooperation with the Vermont Aerospace & Aviation Association, a division of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and with the New Hampshire Aerospace and Defense Export Consortium (NHADEC), during the Aerospace Innovation Forum 2013. These agreements aim to establish preferred relations among aerospace clusters, increase exchanges of information on local and international collaborative projects, and facilitate the monitoring of international developments.

"The two strategic agreements we are signing today present significant opportunities for Québec companies," says Suzanne Benoît, President of Aéro Montréal. "These agreements will, among other things, bring members of the two clusters closer together and help to foster the establishment of strategic partnerships with these two key states. This includes supporting the competitiveness of our respective supply chains through the MACH Initiative."

This initiative is also part of a larger framework that aims to create a New England-Québec Corridor that will eventually include other states with aerospace industries whose supply chains are often interconnected with Québec's, such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine and Rhode Island.

"The U.S. remains a priority for Québec aerospace companies," said Hugue Meloche, Chair of the Market Development - SMEs working group and President of Groupe Meloche. "It is critical that we strengthen our relations with our traditional customer base to better understand and meet the needs of U.S. OEMs and to quickly identify business opportunities for our SMEs."

In general, this agreement involves the exchange of information on the needs and expectations of the members of the two organizations. It also envisions reciprocal support for research projects, the establishment of trade missions, the exchange of information on the optimization of the supply chain and human resources, among others, through international forums such as Aéro Montréal's Aerospace Innovation Forum 2013.

About Aéro Montréal

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.

SOURCE: Aéro Montréal

Amélie Hudon, Manager, Communications and Strategy
Aéro Montréal
Tél. : + 1 514 987-9334
amelie.hudon@aeromontréal.ca