Governor McDonnell Leads Economic Development and Job Creation Mission to India and Israel
– Governor to promote Virginia and further strengthen Virginia's economic relationships –

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell and a team of Virginia economic development officials will embark today on an 11-day job creation and economic development marketing mission that will take the group to Israel and India before concluding on November 21^st. The marketing mission provides the governor and other state officials a unique opportunity to strengthen Virginia's relationship with foreign companies that already have a Virginia presence and to share Virginia's story with prospective corporate investors and importers.

Among those accompanying the governor on the mission are Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore, Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey (India Only) and senior officials from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Tourism Corporation, and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The team will aggressively and proactively encourage business investment and job creation initiatives throughout the Commonwealth. First Lady Maureen McDonnell will also join the mission, focusing her efforts on promoting tourism and the Virginia wine industry.

Speaking about the mission, Governor McDonnell remarked, "As we continue to work diligently to bring new jobs and more opportunities to the Commonwealth, it is important that we explore emerging markets overseas to bring more business opportunities to Virginia and work to increase our exports into the global marketplace. There is no better way to bring new companies to Virginia and sell more of our products to them than to personally tell the Virginia story to the heads of those companies. Over the last 22 months I have led two job creation and economic development missions to Europe and Asia that have had a significant economic impact in Virginia. Now, we are targeting a new, rapidly growing region to tell the Virginia story and recruit new companies to do business in the Commonwealth: India and Israel. In 2008, India was Virginia's 24^th largest export destination, while today it is the 15^th largest. This trip will enable us to strengthen existing relationships and build new ones. In addition, Virginia is home to important Israeli companies, and we would like to see that number grow. Virginia is open for business, and we want to ensure that companies in every region of the world know how great of a place Virginia is to do business. I look forward to more economic successes on this mission like we have seen from our prior missions."

Since taking office, the governor has led two job creation and economic development marketing missions. In the Summer of 2010 he led a trip to Europe. While on that mission he met with officials with The Hornschuch Group, a leading producer and marketer of highly technical films, and helped close a lucrative economic development deal that led to the company investing $28.3 million to expand its O'Sullivan Films operation in Winchester. The project will create 174 new jobs in the Winchester area. He also worked to increase Virginia wine exports and introduced Virginia food products to wholesale distributors, grocers, and other retailers in the United Kingdom, and opened potential export opportunities for Virginia wood products. Finally, during the mission he attended the Farnborough Air Show to promote the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing.

Earlier this year, Governor McDonnell led a job creation and economic development marketing mission to Japan, China and South Korea. The mission has already resulted in a number of economic development deals. Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, Incorporated and China's Dandong Port Group have reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore business opportunities in the rapidly growing market of northern China. Barboursville Vineyards and the Tianjin Tewoo Group have reached an agreement to export Barboursville wines to China. Perdue Agribusiness, Incorporated has reached agreements to begin exporting soybeans to China's Dandong Port Group Co. and its affiliate Dandong Pasite Grain and Oilseed Co. Ltd. Governor McDonnell also announced in September that letters of intent have been signed between Taiwanese importers and Virginia soybean and grain producer groups to increase exports of Virginia soybeans and grains to Taiwan. Additionally, Governor McDonnell attended the Paris Airshow earlier this year to promote the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing.

While on the job creation and economic development marketing mission to Israel and India, the governor and Virginia officials will meet with business leaders in Tel Aviv, Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi. The governor is also expected to announce an Indian agriculture and forestry export initiative during the mission, as well as introduce Virginia's new trade representatives to India. During the mission, the governor will hold three media conference calls. Detail about these conference calls will be issued at a later date.

Governor Bob McDonnell's 2011 Israel and India Job Creation and Economic Development Marketing Mission Agenda

November 10^th - November 14^th (Tel Aviv, Israel)

• Meet with senior leadership from prospective technology and biotechnology companies
• Meet with senior executives from agribusinesses and importers
• Meet with senior executives from shipping companies
• Host a dinner with Israeli Knesset
• Attend Richmond Ballet Minds in Motion Performance (Press Release: http://www.richmondballet.com/newsevents/pressreleases/view.aspx?id=20080340
• Meet with President Shimon Peres
• Meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
• Co-Host with Ofra Strauss a breakfast with leading Israeli Industrialists
• Host roundtable discussion with manufacturing companies and agribusinesses

November 15^th - November 17^th (Mumbai, India)

• Meet with senior leadership from prospective information technology and biotechnology companies
• Meet with senior executives from agribusinesses and importers
• Promote Virginia tourism and wines
• Meet with Virginia Tech officials on India campus
• Meet with senior executives of energy and advance manufacturing companies

November 17^th - 18^th (Bangalore, India)

• Host a dinner with members of the travel industry
• Meet with senior leadership from prospective information technology and biotechnology companies
• Meet with senior executives from agribusinesses and importers
• Reception with the Confederation of Indian Industry
• VCU Telecast from Christ University

November 19^th - November 21^st (New Delhi, India)

• Meet with senior leadership from prospective technology companies
• Meet with senior executives from agribusinesses and importers
• Host a reception to promote Virginia tourism and wines
• Meet with senior executives with energy companies

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