WINCHESTER - The Passport Program officially began in the Northern Shenandoah Valley today with a kick-off luncheon to introduce the program to area businesses. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) combined efforts with the Winchester-Frederick County Economic Development Commission, the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority, the Winchester-Frederick County and Front Royal-Warren County Chambers of Commerce, the Shenandoah County Office of Economic Development and the Clarke County Office of Economic Development to organize this event. The program was developed to increase the awareness of international exporting in the local communities as well as introduce additional companies to the advantages of exporting. Winchester is the first community in Virginia to host this program.
Jason Nelsen, Marketing Director for Innovative Solutions International, served as the keynote speaker at the luncheon. Mr. Nelsen's current position is multi-faceted and entails such duties as leading the company's international business development for air traffic management, GPS consulting and engineering services. He also manages sales and business development efforts for a joint-venture company with European-based partners. Before joining Innovative Solutions International, Mr. Nelsen worked as a trade assistant with the United States Embassy in France.
The Passport Program includes an Export Documentation & Procedures Training Workshop to be held on March 8th. The workshop is a full-day seminar designed to enhance the methods and procedures used by businesses involved in international trade or businesses entering the global market place. A reference notebook, certificate of completion and a Shipping Solutions Software demonstration CD-ROM will be handed out during the program.
U.S. Customs estimates that 54 percent of all export documentation has one or more errors. This workshop is designed to enable accuracy, ease of operation and a significant decrease in time spent completing export processes. The workshop covers major aspects of export documentation including new regulations and changes; the new Shippers Export Declaration (SED); INCO Terms 2000; and up to 19 internal and external documents.
If you would like more information on the Passport Program please contact:
Jaap Vangroll, International Trade Manager, International Trade Development
Virginia Economic Development Partnership
(540) 438-1525/ jvangroll [at] YesVirginia.org
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth. The Partnership is a state authority, which is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business development and international trade.