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Virginia International Trade Alliance Seeks to Help Companies Succeed

Governor McAuliffe has been actively working to recruit new businesses to Virginia, but companies that are already located in the Commonwealth say they could use state help to export their goods and services. And a new Virginia International Trade Alliance just announced by the governor aims to help those companies expand and succeed in the international marketplace.

The initiative will be managed by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and establish new formal ties with businesses, the state Chamber of Commerce, and universities.  McAuliffe says VITAL will expand the Commonwealth’s nationally recognized international trade program.

Through the partnerships with four trade associations we are now serving 90 of their member companies, and we are serving another 60 companies through partnerships with our 9 public universities which will identify these companies and prepare international business plans for each of them.”

He says that's 150 new companies—in addition to the 200 already served through trade missions, global defense, and other initiatives. The overall goal is to grow Virginia exports by one-point-six-billion dollars over five years, create 14-thousand trade-supported jobs over that period, and significantly increase the number of businesses enrolled in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership international programs each year.

Tommie McNeil is a State Capitol reporter who has been covering Virginia and Virginia politics for more than a decade. He originally hails from Maryland, and also doubles as the evening anchor for 1140 WRVA in Richmond.
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