INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb may be on the first non-stop Paris-to-Indianapolis flight as he ends an upcoming trade mission to Europe.
The trip was mentioned in passing this week during a public board meeting of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC), which is chaired by Holcomb.
The daily non-stop Delta flights begin May 24, with the inaugural flight set to leave Indianapolis at 6:12 p.m. and arrive in Paris eight hours and 23 minutes later. The first return fight leaves Paris on May 25 and takes nine hours and 17 minutes. Main cabin seats were going for $2,714.
Before that trade mission, Holcomb is heading to Canada for three days of economic development meetings beginning Monday.
“As we work to take Indiana’s business climate to the next level, we are targeting strategic national and international markets that will be essential partners in developing new innovations and creating jobs for Hoosiers,” Holcomb said in a statement.
“Canada is not only our closest neighbor, but one of our strongest allies in foreign direct investment and trade. I look forward to building Indiana’s relationships in Canada and to pursuing economic opportunities that will help shape the future of our state.”
Indiana is home to more than 70 Canadian businesses, including global companies such as Canadian National Railway, Dorel Juvenile Group, KIK Custom Products and Magna Powertrain, according to the IEDC.
Those businesses provide more than 15,600 jobs, accounting for 8 percent of all Indiana jobs supported by foreign-owned businesses.
Holcomb will be joined by Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger, first lady Janet Holcomb, Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson and Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper.
On Monday, he is to meet in Ottawa with Scott Brison, the member of Parliament for Kings-Hants and president of the Treasury Board, and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Kelly Craft. The governor and the U.S. Embassy will also cohost a business round table.
On Tuesday, he travels to Toronto to meet with Kathleen Wynne, the premier of Ontario, among other activities.
On Wednesday, the Hoosier delegation will meet with Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, and participate in business and industry-focused round table discussions. The delegation will join the Counseil Des Relations Internationales de Montreal (CORIM) to discuss opportunities to grow the state’s international economy, the Federation of Chamber of Commerces Québec to discuss economic partnerships, and Québec government officials and aerospace industry leaders.
In addition, the Indiana delegation will meet maritime leadership at the Port of Montreal and visit FedNav Group, which is Canada’s largest dry-bulk shipping company and the parent company for the general cargo terminal operator at the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor.