Today, Snohomish County Paine Field Airport completed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Chubu Centrair International Airport, located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The MOC establishes a cooperative relationship between the airports and regions, with an emphasis on development of each region’s aerospace industry. This is the first MOC between Paine Field Airport and a Japan-based airport.

“This agreement will have multiple benefits for Snohomish County. By facilitating a cooperative relationship between Paine Field Airport and Chubu Centrair Airport, we provide the opportunity for Snohomish County and Aichi Prefecture to work together to further the success of each region’s aerospace industry, as well as strengthen existing ties between our governments,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers.

The MOC will provide benefits to both airports and regions through the exchange of information for successfully operating airports that heavily support each region’s aerospace industry, specifically in aircraft manufacturing, and large air cargo freight and transportation. In addition, the airports will provide mutual assistance for projects carried out by both parties.

“The aerospace industry and members of the community play an important role in the vitality of Snohomish County’s economy. I’m excited to see the further growth of our aerospace industry that this agreement will bring,” said Snohomish County Councilmember and Trade Development Alliance Board Treasurer Stephanie Wright.

“Paine Field is the heart of Snohomish County’s aerospace workforce. I fully support the signing of this MOC with Centrair, and believe that it will bring further innovation to our region’s aerospace industry,” said Snohomish County Councilmember and Trade Development Alliance Board member Terry Ryan.

“The Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle is pleased to support the MOC between Snohomish County and Aichi Prefecture. We look forward to continuing our support for Snohomish County’s global trade and development initiatives,” said Neepaporn “A” Boungjaktha, Interim President of the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle.

“Boeing congratulates Snohomish County Paine Field Airport and Chubu Centrair International Airport on their agreement to collaborate more closely for mutual success going forward,” said Bill McSherry, vice president of Government Operations for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “These two airports, while continents apart, are linked by Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. In fact, both airports play an integral role in the manufacturing process of Boeing’s newest airplanes and are key to our long-term success. We are excited to help strengthen the partnership between Paine Field and Centrair for many more years to come.”

“I am pleased to offer my sincere congratulations to Paine Field Snohomish County Airport and Chubu Centrair International Airport upon the signing of this Memorandum of Cooperation, officially launching a new mechanism for regional cooperation between aerospace manufacturing hubs in Washington State and central Japan. This MOC is one of the latest achievements under the broader Memorandum of Cooperation on Economic and Trade Relations signed last June between the Governments of Japan and Washington State. The Consulate looks forward to the successful development of new efforts that can be realized under the Paine Field-Centrair MOC,” said Masahiro Omura, Consul General of Japan in Seattle.

“Trade and international investment are vitally important to strengthening communities and our statewide economy,” said Brian Bonlender, director of the Washington State Department of Commerce. “This agreement between Snohomish County and Aichi Prefecture is yet another example of Washington State’s proactive approach to engaging with business partners around the world. Ever since Japan Airlines began using Moses Lake airfield in Grant County nearly 50 years ago, aerospace industry relationships have continued to thrive between our two regions.”

The establishment of a cooperative relationship between Paine Field Airport and Chubu Centrair International Airport comes almost a year after Washington State signed a MOC on Economic and Trade Relations with the Government of Japan, which highlights ten (10) sectors for intended cooperation. Aerospace is one of those ten (10) sectors, with the aim of “…improving systems for developing, manufacturing and maintaining aircraft between the civil aerospace industries of Both Sides, together with promoting exchange of information and cooperation to benefit the cultivation of skilled labor in the appropriate fields of Both Sides.”

Aerospace is the largest industry in Snohomish County. The County boasts 46,000 workers spanning across 220 firms, including Boeing, Bombardier, Comac, Embraer and Sukoi, and employs 50% of the Washington State’s aerospace workforce. Paine Field is home to The Boeing Company’s assembly plant for the 747, 767, 777, and 787 aircraft.