RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that he will lead a three-day trade mission next week, May 30th - June 1st, to Canada. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick O. Gottschalk and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Robert S. Bloxom will accompany the Governor to Toronto and Montreal.
“Canada is Virginia’s number one trading partner, so it is appropriate that my first trade mission as Governor takes me to Canada,” said Governor Kaine. “I look forward to reinforcing our relationships with Canadian companies already invested in Virginia, while working to recruit new business partners to the Commonwealth. I am also pleased to have this opportunity to meet with Canadian travel industry officials to promote our 2007 celebration of America’s 400th Anniversary at Jamestown.”
Virginia’s annual exports to Canada are valued at $2.59 billion, and top exports include construction equipment, industrial machinery, computers and computer components, compressors, plastics, and paperboard. Canadian companies that have recently announced projects in Virginia include CGI-AMS, which has its U.S. headquarters in Virginia, Sanfacon and Intertape Polymer Group Inc.
The Governor’s itinerary includes meetings with key Canadian business executives and government leaders, tourism officials and travel industry media to promote the Jamestown 2007 400th Anniversary celebration, which coincides with Quebec’s 400th anniversary in 2008.
Virginia attracts more than 435,000 visitors from Canada annually, who generate almost $60 million in spending. The Commonwealth is a little more than one day’s drive from Toronto and Montreal, making it the closest warm-water beach destination for Canadians traveling from Ontario and Quebec.