RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) is offering a new service to help Virginia companies grow internationally amid challenging economic times domestically.
Export 3.0 focuses on the early stage of the international business development process—the face-to-face meetings with potential agents and customers in a target market. VEDP will organize meetings for 30 Virginia companies per year in one of 33 different countries. VEDP’s in-country consultants will identify prospective agents and customers in the target market and schedule three days of meetings on behalf of the Virginia company. Participating Virginia companies must commit to personally visit the selected market before July 2010. For more information about Export 3.0, or to apply, visit www.ExportVirginia.org.
“Given the current economic climate, it is essential that the Commonwealth help its existing businesses find new sales opportunities,” said Paul Grossman, VEDP Director of International Trade and Investment. “We are excited that we have found a way to make our services available to a broader range of Virginia companies in need of growing sales. Export 3.0 is a fantastic opportunity for Virginia companies to explore international markets with minimal cost to the company.”
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 22-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor and the Virginia General Assembly. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP has offices in Virginia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Mexico and Japan.