RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine will discuss the importance of international trade to Virginia and seek ideas for the Commonwealth’s first international strategic plan October 4th during the 58th Virginia Conference on World Trade. The conference, sponsored by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, will be held October 3-4 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in Roanoke.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that FERIDIES®, a leading manufacturer of Virginia peanuts, will invest $3.2 million to expand its facility in the Southampton Business Park in Southampton County. The company also will increase its equipment capacity at the plant, creating 25 new jobs.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced the acceptance of five new companies into the Accessing International Markets (AIM) export development program. The program, launched by VEDP in December 2005, helps Virginia companies pursue international leads in a new market overseas and realize the benefits of exporting.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that NYK Logistics Inc., a leading logistics solutions provider, will open a new 120,000-square-foot distribution facility in the City of Chesapeake, creating 100 new jobs. NYK Logistics’ Hampton facility will continue to operate, and a number of employees will transfer to the new plant. The total project investment is $26 million. Virginia successfully competed against Florida for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that U.S. Components, LLC, a manufacturer of roof, floor and wall trusses, will invest $6.4 million to open its first Virginia manufacturing facility in the West Point Industrial Park shell building in the Town of West Point. The project will create 104 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against North Carolina for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Water World Fiberglass Pools, N.E. Inc. will invest $3 million to open a facility in the Buckingham County Industrial Park, creating 100 new jobs. Up to 50 additional employees will be hired for seasonal demands. The company will manufacture fiberglass swimming pools. Virginia successfully competed with Louisiana for the project.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Swedwood North America, a furniture manufacturer and subsidiary of IKEA, will build its North American manufacturing operation in Cane Creek Centre, an industrial park jointly developed by Pittsylvania County and the City of Danville. The company, which will produce furniture for IKEA home furnishing stores in North America, will begin work at the site in November, and the projected completion date on the first of three phases is the end of 2007. The Swedwood facility eventually will employ up to 740 people.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia Cobia Farms LLC, a joint venture between MariCal Inc., a privately-held aquatic life science biotechnology company, and Blue Ridge Aquaculture, Inc., will invest $30.33 million to develop a new technology and method of farming Cobia fish in Saltville. The project will create 60 new jobs.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Holston Medical Group (HMG), a multi-specialty physician practice, will invest $3 million to open its first medical records data center in Scott County. The company, which will create 40 new jobs, will access and store the digital medical records of patients for multiple practices and hospitals in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. HMG also intends to augment the medical records facility with a multi-physician facility offering a full range of diagnostic services for Southwest Virginia.

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today is participating in a seven-day trade mission to Europe, with scheduled visits to Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The Governor, accompanied by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick O. Gottschalk and representatives of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Virginia Tourism Corporation, departed Saturday afternoon, November 11th, and will return to Virginia on Saturday, November 18th.