RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) has received a 25-year award from Hannover Fairs USA. The Commonwealth has maintained a marketing presence at either the Hannover Fair or CeBIT for the past 25 years. Both trade shows allow Virginia to promote itself as a business location to international companies. Virginia companies also attend the shows with the VEDP to promote the export of Virginia products and services.
“Virginia has consistently found success in partnering with European businesses for both trade and inward investment,” said Mark R. Kilduff, Executive Director of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. “I applaud the aggressive efforts of VEDP staff and the Virginia firms that have attended these trade shows over the years. Our overseas marketing will continue as Governor Warner leads a mission to Europe this May.”
Hannover Fairs USA is the U.S. subsidiary of CeBIT organizer Deutsche Messe, AG. Each year roughly 8,000 companies exhibit at CeBIT to promote their products and services. The show is staffed by VEDP’s personnel based in Frankfurt, Germany, and in Virginia. In 1968, Virginia was the first state in the Union to open an inward investment promotion office in Europe. Mr. Hans Schetelig, Director-Europe, has attended the shows for the past 25 years since he joined the state’s European office in 1977 to promote trade with European companies and to recruit investments from Europe.
Virginia exported almost $4 billion to Europe in 2002. There are 518 European companies in Virginia accounting for 79,359 jobs and $5.9 billion in investment. Nineteen countries are represented by these companies.