News story: Business Secretary points to bright future for Belfast during Canada visit

Business Secretary Greg Clark was in Canada today (20 October 2017) to attend an event marking the joint venture between Airbus and Bombardier, agreed earlier this week.

During the visit, Greg Clark held meetings with Bombardier and Airbus’ senior leadership, including Airbus’ CEO Tom Enders and COO Fabrice Brégier; and Bombardier’s Chairman Pierre Beaudoin, President and CEO Alain Bellemare and President, Aerostructures and Engineering Services in Belfast, Michael Ryan.

Greg Clark also met Canadian Minister of International Trade François-Philippe Champlain, with both governments reinforcing their joint commitment to working with the companies to build on the C-Series success, while continuing to ensure the unjustified case brought by Boeing is brought to a swift resolution.

The Business secretary also met with members of the Quebec Government, Premier Philippe Couillard, Deputy Premier Dominique Anglade and Minister of International Affairs Christine Saint-Pierre.

The event, held at Bombardier’s assembly facility in Mirabel, Quebec, marks an important step in the future of Bombardier’s C-Series aircraft and in securing the Bombardier Shorts plant in Belfast, which produces the aircraft’s wings.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

Airbus’ announcement that it is taking a stake in Bombardier’s C-Series was an important positive step forward for the C-Series and the highly skilled and dedicated workforce in Belfast.

I discussed with Airbus and Bombardier how the new partnership has the potential to see Bombardier Shorts plant in Belfast build on its excellence and grow further. In my meeting with Canadian Minister of International Trade François-Philippe Champlain we reinforced our commitment to continuing to work together to ensure the unjustified case brought by Boeing is brought to a swift resolution.