Manufacturers and suppliers from 25 countries converged in Seattle at the 2012 Aerospace and Defense Suppliers Summit, the first event of its kind in the United States. More than 1,500 delegates representing 800 companies attended the three-day event sponsored by BCI Aerospace, in cooperation with Boeing and Washington State. Modeled on the well-known Aeromart Toulouse event in Europe for the past 16 years, this summit was designed to provide aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers from around the world with the information and contacts they need to create business opportunities and share knowledge. The Commerce team played an integral role in showcasing why Washington is the global center of aerospace innovation. Learn more

Gov. Chris Gregoire, pictured above with Tom McLaughlin, Executive Director, Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound (CAMPS) at the Summit, gave opening remarks and visited with companies from our state and VIPs from France and Mexico.