RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the launch of a new resource portal to help Virginia’s defense-related companies go global. The online portal was created through Virginia’s Going Global Defense Initiative (GGDI), the Commonwealth’s only program that secures new revenue streams for Virginia’s defense companies in face of declining U.S. Department of Defense spending, which in turn preserves jobs and replaces declining state tax revenues for Virginia. 

More than 280 companies have participated in GGDI’s programs, including finding new customers overseas, receiving in-country market research, and conducting export compliance analyses.

With this new resource portal, defense-related companies across Virginia have on-demand access to export assistance through an extensive library of industry reports, country guides, and export how-to guides. Companies can also access training videos and tutorials that have been developed to help defense-related companies go global.

Visitors to the online portal can quickly find relevant information to help them grow their international sales. Resources are sorted by geographic regions, industries, countries, and export strategies. Using the portal’s networking and forum features, participants can also build connections with companies that are operating within their industry or that share their interests.

“Over 90% of global purchasing power is outside of the U.S., and this new portal is another tool we have to assist Virginia’s defense-related companies in diversifying their customer base abroad,” said Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “The Going Global Defense Initiative continues to grow the Commonwealth’s economy by helping these businesses in one of the largest industries in the Commonwealth access global markets.”

To access the portal, visit http://resources.exportvirginia.org. 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. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP offers numerous programs to assist Virginia companies with selling into the global marketplace.