Aberdeen Lord Provost welcomes Louisiana visitors to Town House
04 September 2017
Key economic developers from Louisiana, in Aberdeen for Offshore Europe, visited the Lord Provost at the Town House today (Monday 04 September).
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett met with Don Pierson, Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development and Larry Collins, Executive Director of International Commerce, Louisiana Economic Development.
Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state's business environment and creating a more vibrant Louisiana economy. This includes attracting foreign direct investments and to grow international trade.
Also at the meeting were Aberdeen City Council officers from the International Trade and Investment team. The team supports Aberdeen business community by maintaining a portfolio of close business relationships with government, economic development agencies and industry bodies. It also helps organisations to find the advice and information they need to get their business involved in international trade activities or to exploit further international trade opportunities for those already exporting.
Louisiana’s key industries include:
Advanced Manufacturing
Aerospace
Agribusiness
Automotive
Energy
Entertainment
Process Industries
Software Development
Water Management
Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett said: “Today’s meeting provided an ideal opportunity ahead of Offshore Europe to meet with our friends from Louisiana to discuss new and exciting ways of working together to support business opportunities for companies in Aberdeen and Louisiana now and in the future.
“I was also heartened to hear about the sterling efforts being made by the people of Louisiana to help and support residents affected by the catastrophic events in Houston due to Hurricane Harvey last week.”
Don Pierson, Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development, said: “I was honoured to meet Lord Provost Crockett, and engage in an impressive and detailed discussion building on our more than 10 year relationship.
“Indeed, Aberdeen continues to be an important hub for not only the oil and gas industry, but also a leader in innovation, technology and culture. What strikes me is having so much in common with Louisiana's businesses and industries in both traditional and emerging fields. The similarities are striking and represent great opportunities for B2B exchanges that can prove to be very valuable in the long term for both Aberdeen and Louisiana."
Larry Collins, Executive Director of International Commerce, Louisiana Economic Development, said: “Our meeting with Lord Provost Crockett provided an opportunity for Louisiana to express our interest in continued cooperation to help companies in both regions to partner and explore business opportunities. By creating opportunities for companies to interact companies will find ways to do businesses.”
The visit continues to build on the successful relationship already forged by previous visits to Louisiana by representatives from Aberdeen City Council in 2013 and in 2015 for the Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition (LAGCOE).