In June, Georgia Department of Economic Development International Trade Manager Taube Ponce traveled with Georgia companies to exhibit at Eurosatory, the world’s leading defense and security tradeshow. The international show held in Paris, France welcomed more than 1,800 exhibitors from 63 countries and 57,000 visitors from 153 countries.  Eurosatory’s impressive international draw provides a high-profile platform for doing business in the land and air defense and security sectors.

The aerospace, defense and security industries demand a mature marketplace, a highly skilled workforce and cutting edge technology, all of which Georgia is able to provide. Georgia is home to eight of the top ten U.S. defense contractors, innovative defense technology and training research centers and nine U.S. Armed Forces military bases including the Army’s new Cyber Command headquarters at Fort Gordon in Augusta. Given the well-developed defense and security ecosystem, it should come as no surprise that defense and security product exports from Georgia continue to grow, totaling $1.24 billion in 2017.* The aerospace, defense and security industries continue to prosper across the state as international demand increases. Exhibiting at global shows like Eurosatory helps Georgia defense and security companies tap into that demand by connecting them to potential buyers in-country.

Eurosatory is a global show that provides opportunities for companies to meet the world’s integrators, suppliers, and manufacturers in the defense and security industries.  Co-exhibiting with GDEcD at leading international events adds significant value to companies’ tradeshow experience.  Georgia’s international representatives are able to schedule pre-arranged B2B meetings with foreign companies interested in doing business with Georgia exporters.GDEcD first attended Eurosatory in 2016 where Georgia companies participated in B2B matchmaking and networking opportunities resulting in multiple partner agreements and significant sales.

This year, three companies exhibited with GDEcD at the show: American Panel Corporation, Blue Force Gear, and Meggitt Training Systems. American Panel Corporation develops flat panel displays, a type of electronic viewing technologies that are lighter and thinner than traditional displays, for military applications across aerospace, land and maritime vehicles. Blue Force Gear designs weapons slings and tactical gear that are lighter and more efficient than traditional products.  Meggitt Training Systems is the leading provider of integrated live-fire and virtual weapons training systems for defense forces around the world. All three companies promoted their products to international buyers at Eurosatory 2018.

Companies who exhibited with GDEcD benefitted from B2B matchmaking services coordinated by Georgia’s international representative for the UK and Ireland, Mike Harling, who organized 18 meetings with qualified potential partners and customers. In addition to these pre-arranged meetings, the Georgia booth welcomed international visitors from a variety of countries including Germany, Australia, France, Turkey, Peru, Italy, Tunisia, the Ukraine and Israel. GDEcD’s representative in Colombia also assisted in connecting two of the Georgia companies with a Colombian Defense Ministry entity exhibiting at the show and interested in the companies’ products and technologies.

For companies unable to attend in-person, GDEcD set up a catalog exhibition at the tradeshow.  This year, four Georgia companies were represented through company collateral, business cards and briefing materials at the Georgia, USA booth in the U.S.A. Pavilion. Senior International Trade Manager Taube Ponce worked with Mr. Harling to facilitate connections and drive interest for the companies unable to attend. International visitors from countries as far away as Russia and Argentina stopped by the Georgia booth and took the marketing materials and business cards, allowing companies in the catalog exhibition to take advantage of GDEcD’s presence at the show.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s International Trade Division is determined to provide resources to help Georgia companies export their products worldwide. From export counseling to market research and international tradeshow assistance, GDEcD’s trade programs and services are designed to assist Georgia companies expand their businesses and connect to new global markets. Making global trade accessible to local companies is key to the trade division’s mission.

Georgia companies that exhibited with GDEcD at Eurosatory 2018 include:

• American Panel Corporation

• Aventure Aviation*

• Blue Force Gear

• DRD Tactical*

• Meggitt Training Systems

• Munirem Environmental*

• Pyrotechnic Specialties*

*Denotes catalog exhibitor

From the Georgia Department of Economic Development