Hutchinson to open European office, attend air show

Gov. Asa Hutchinson next week will make his second trip to Europe, where he will open the state’s new European office and attend a major air show, he announced in a press conference Tuesday.

The trip July 9-14 will include a stop at the bi-annual Farmborough International Airshow in London July 11. Arkansas will host a booth there, and Hutchinson and Arkansas Economic Development Commission representatives will meet with aerospace-related prospects. Hutchinson also plans meetings with aerospace companies that already have a presence in the state.

Hutchinson said the Farmborough event will attract 84 of the world’s top 100 aerospace companies representing 50 countries. Hutchinson said his attendance at last year’s Paris International Airshow contributed to Aerojet Rocketdyne expanding in the Camden area, creating 85 jobs with an $18 million investment. The state’s aerospace industry exports $1.6 billion annually, Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and about five other state governors will be at the air show.

Hutchinson on July 12 will travel from London to Berlin to open the state’s new European office. It will be the state’s third overseas office, joining ones in Japan and China. Hutchinson said Germany is the largest foreign direct investor in Arkansas, with 23 German-owned companies located in the state. Arkansas is also home to 13 French companies and 11 from the United Kingdom.

“This is a recognition that Arkansas is a player on the world stage,” he said.

AEDC Director Mike Preston said state officials plan to meet with more than 20 companies between the stops in London and Berlin. He said Arkansas representatives will be meeting with prospects and those with a current Arkansas presence.

Preston said this will be the second time the state has had a booth at an air show, the first time occurring at last year’s Paris International Airshow. The two shows occur on alternate years.

“In this industry, if you’re not at the table, you’re very likely to end up on the menu,” Preston said.

Hutchinson also told reporters that the state needs to stick with a three-drug cocktail for executions that has been approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court, even though Arkansas’ current supply of one of those drugs has expired and the state has not yet obtained another provider.

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled June 23 that the state’s method of execution and its allowing execution drug manufacturers to remain anonymous is constitutional. Hutchinson said the next step is to receive the official mandate from the court and then for Attorney General Leslie Rutledge to advise his office when the executions should be set.

Hutchinson also said he would “have more information” Thursday about a possible reorganization of his office.