WASHINGTON: Virginia will invest $850,000 over the biennial budget to expand its international trade initiatives promoting the state’s agriculture and forestry products around the world, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced Tuesday.
With these new funds, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will open two new trade representative offices in Southeast Asia and the Middle East/Northern Africa region, as well as create a new Richmond-based position to support the newly enhanced global trade network. The investment also will promote VDACS-led reverse trade missions to Virginia and promotional events supporting the export of Virginia agricultural and forestry products.
“With 95 percent of world consumers living outside of the United States, our administration is committed to promoting Virginia’s agriculture and forestry products on the international stage and ensuring that we see more Made-in-Virginia products exported in the global economy,” McAuliffe stated in a news release.
“As we build the new Virginia economy, it is imperative that we provide VDACS with the resources to facilitate trade deals for our agribusinesses and forestry operations, and I thank the General Assembly for working with our administration on this investment. The expansion of VDACS International Marketing assets is a big step in our work to grow Virginia’s agriculture and forestry businesses and introduce products in new markets across the world.”
