Paris trade trip stop focuses on existing trade relationships, Nixon says

— Gov. Jay Nixon visited Paris on Monday as part of his European trade mission, where he met with Boeing executives to discuss state incentives as the aerospace giant moves to expand their St. Louis facility.

Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Nixon said the company plans to expand the information technology facility on its campus in St. Louis. He said the company will qualify for tax credits through the Missouri Quality Jobs Act, which reduces a company’s taxes owed based on employees hired — in this case, Boeing plans some 500.

“We expect that to occur relatively soon,” Nixon said. “We’ll be working with Boeing on a timeline.”

Nixon said his visit to the Paris air show allowed him to meet not only with Boeing executives (as pictured above with Boeing CEO Jim Mcnary), but also to meet with other industry leaders and American governors on hand for the annual affair.

This foreign trip — Nixon’s fourth as governor — differs in that instead of opening new markets like his administration did with visits to Brazil and China, he is seeking to solidify and grow ongoing relationships.

“These are more matured trade partners, so we wanted to make a call on those we already do business with and look for other areas to grow,” he said. “This is not a new market in a way Brazil was – these are existing relationships that have been going on with Missouri for years.”

Nixon said while he was not signing a “trade agreement” like he has on similar trips, he feels it was important for him to travel and participate to “send a clear signal” that Missouri has open arms.

“In order to compete in the world economy, you have to show the world that you’re willing to go the extra mile,” he said.

Nixon left for Europe on Friday. Yesterday, he visited the Normandy American Cemertary where he laid wreaths to honor fallen servicemen. Nixon is also set to visit the United Kingdom on Wednesday and Belgium on Thursday. Nixon is set to return to Missouri on Saturday.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misstated Boeing’s expansion. It is a staff expansion, not a physical expansion of a facility.