Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell announced today as part of his trade and marketing mission to Asia the formal opening of a representative office in mainland China dedicated to increasing agricultural and forestry product exports to China, the world’s most populous country.
Over the last three years, Virginia has been implementing the governor’s initiative to increase agricultural and forestry exports. The initiative includes the utilization of a representative in mainland China, which has one of the world’s fastest growing economies, to develop and pursue new sales opportunities for Virginia’s agribusiness producers and exporters.
At a ceremony in Shanghai yesterday with U.S. Consulate officials, including Consul General Robert Griffiths, and leading Chinese agricultural importers, distributors and processors, McDonnell commented, “Today’s announcement is key for Virginia’s agriculture and forestry producers and exporters as we now have a dedicated trade representative working in China, our largest agricultural export customer. Fifteen years ago, Virginia’s agricultural exports to China were negligible. Today, business is booming. China purchased almost $640 million in agricultural goods last year from the Commonwealth, more than doubling the amount from 2011. I’ve seen firsthand during my two trade missions to China that the country holds huge growth potential for future export business from Virginia. We intend to capitalize fully on those opportunities. More exports to China equals more good jobs in Virginia.”
With this portion of the governor’s international agricultural trade initiative implemented, Virginia now has the only dedicated agricultural trade office in Shanghai, China’s economic and commercial capital. The Commonwealth joins North Carolina as the only other state with a dedicated agricultural trade office in China. North Carolina has an office in Beijing.
From Augusta Free Press: https://augustafreepress.com/2013/04/23/gov-bob-mcdonnell-announces-opening-of-agriculture-trade-office-in-shanghai/