59th Virginia Conference on World Trade Scheduled for October 17-18

RICHMOND - If you engage in global commerce and want to catch up on international trade issues with industry experts, update your knowledge of current export regulations (at the Trade Certificate Program, an educational seminar on import and export), and hear high-caliber speakers discuss how Virginia is positioning itself for the future of international trade, then don’t miss the 59th Annual Virginia Conference on World Trade.

Sponsored by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the conference will be held October 17-18 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg. Keynote speakers include Sir Eldon Griffiths, Ambassador at Large of the World Affairs Council of Orange County, Director of the Walter Schmid Center for International Business at the School of Business and Economics at Chapman University where he is also Founder/Director of the British Institute. Sir Eldon will discuss Virginia and United Kingdom trade relations in celebration of the Commonwealth’s 400th anniversary. John Manzella, President of Manzella Trade Communications, Inc. and author of Grasping Globalization, Its Impact and Your Corporate Response, will address conference attendees on succeeding in business within an ultra-competitive world of new global realities. Panel discussions will include speakers from Bode Technologies, MHI Ship Repair, Global Logic, Delta-T, Alcoa and Virginia Port Authority.

In addition to the line-up of speakers, the International Trade Certificate Program offers topics covering day-to-day issues faced by international business practitioners and relays real-world solutions which can be taken back to the workplace by the participants. For more information about the conference or to register online, visit www.vacwt.org.

“This year’s conference has an incredible line-up of professionals who know how to compete in the global marketplace,” said Paul Grossman, VEDP International Trade and Investment Director. “Virginia is a key player in this ever-changing market, and it is an honor to collaborate with colleagues on the Commonwealth’s future in international trade.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, a marketing organization, 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 21-member board of directors appointed by the Governor and the Virginia General Assembly. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP has offices in Virginia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, Korea and Japan.