Governor and administration team to embark on European marketing mission

On Monday, June 8^th, Governor Terry McAuliffe and officials from his administration will embark on a marketing mission to Europe that will cover six countries in 11 days. The Governor and the Virginia delegation will conduct over 70 economic development meetings in an effort to bring new jobs and economic activity back to the Commonwealth.

The Governor, First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore, along with Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Virginia Tourism Corporation officials will meet with business and government officials in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Sweden, France, and Belgium. The highlight of the trip will be the Paris Air Show, where the Governor and team will meet with aerospace industry representatives from around the world and about economic development opportunities in the Commonwealth.

“Marketing missions are an essential part of building a new Virginia economy,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Meeting job creators and economic decision-makers from around the globe and telling them the Virginia story in person is critical to bringing new jobs and economic activity to our Commonwealth. My team and I will work hard over the 11 days we are in Europe and I fully expect that we will close multiple significant deals as a result of this important trip.”

Governor McAuliffe and Virginia Delegation European Trade Mission – June 8-19, 2015

• June 8^th – Governor and delegation depart Dulles Airport for London, United Kingdom
• June 9-10 – Governor and delegation conduct economic development meetings in the United Kingdom
• June 11 – Governor and delegation travel to Milan, Italy to conduct economic development meetings
• June 12-13 – Governor and delegation travel to Stuttgart, Germany for economic development meetings and then to Stockholm, Sweden for further meetings
• June 14-18 – Governor and delegation travel to Paris, France and conduct economic development meetings, most in conjunction with the Paris Airshow. Governor McAuliffe will also conduct meetings in Brussels, Belgium on the 18^th.
• June 19 – Governor and delegation return to Virginia

Highlights of the mission include two 300-person Virginia-hosted receptions (one in London and one in Paris) that will showcase Virginia’s tourism, agriculture and culinary assets to prospective business partners.

This mission will support Virginia’s economic development priorities in targeted industries including: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, corporate headquarters, information technology, data centers, health information technology, agriculture, forestry, and tourism.