McDonnell leaves Wednesday for trade mission

Gov. Bob McDonnell leaves Wednesday for a 16-day trade mission to California, China and Japan.

The trip, attended by several Cabinet secretaries and economic development officials, is intended to attract investment in Virginia and increase agricultural exports.

In California, McDonnell is working with Utah Gov. Gary Herbert to co-market the states to companies that are looking to expand in the U.S.

In China and Japan, the governor plans to meet with foreign companies who already have a presence in Virginia as well as potential corporate investors and importers.

Previous trade missions have led to an increase in agricultural exports. Since 2010, exports to China have more than doubled, mainly from new soybean and grain shipments.

Attending the trade mission will be Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng, Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey (California only), Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore, Chief of Staff Martin Kent (California only) and senior officials from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Tourism Corporation, Virginia Port Authority and Virginia International Terminals and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Following is the itinerary for the trip:

April 10-12 (Los Angeles, San Francisco)

&#8226 Host reception to promote Virginia film and tourism
&#8226 Host luncheon and receptions with Utah Governor Gary Herbert
&#8226 Meet with film executives and business leaders to promote Virginia
&#8226
April 14 -22 (Beijing, Dandong, Ningbo and Shanghai, China)

&#8226 Participate in U.S. Governor’s Forum with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, Guam Governor Eddie Calvo and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in Beijing and Tianjin
&#8226 Host Luncheon with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and officials with the Palace Museum, National Museum of China and Poly Museum
&#8226 Host dinner to promote Virginia tourism and wine in Beijing
&#8226 Meet with Port of Dandong officials to discuss expanded trade
&#8226 Meet with business and trade executives in Beijing, Dandong, Ningbo and Shanghai
&#8226 Attend Auto Shanghai 2013
&#8226 Participate in Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Shanghai Office Opening
&#8226 Host reception in Shanghai to promote Virginia tourism and wine

April 23-25 (Tokyo, Japan)

&#8226 Host roundtable meeting on doing business in Virginia with consultants in Tokyo
&#8226 Meetings with business, trade and manufacturing executives
&#8226 Events to promote Virginia agriculture products
&#8226 Receptions to promote Virginia tourism and film
&#8226 Meeting with U.S. Ambassador John V. Roosa
&#8226 Meeting with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)