USQBC Director Participates in Launch of VITAL

The US-Qatar Business Council, represented by Director Mohammed Barakat, participated in Governor Terry McAuliffe’s launch of the Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL) this week in Richmond, VA. The Virginia International Trade Alliance (VITAL), is a new initiative managed by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) designed to increase international trade in Virginia. VITAL expands the Commonwealth’s nationally recognized international trade program via formal partnerships with Virginia’s public universities, industry associations and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce to serve their member companies as they expand international sales. Over a five-year period, VITAL aims to grow Virginia exports by $1.6 billion, create 14,000 trade-supported jobs and increase the number of companies being served by VEDP’s international trade programs each year to 390. The program will expand Virginia’s existing trade-assistance programs that include targeted market research, face-to-face meetings with foreign businesses and the VALET program, according to Paul Grossman, VP of International Trade for VEDP. “This is going to be one of several pieces of our goal to help our companies meet our consumers abroad,” Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones said after the event. “This is in our economic interest. If we’re going to grow and help businesses create more jobs, we need to help them sell overseas.” The Council remains a strong partner of the VEDP, helping Virginia companies do business with Qatar. To read the full press release visit: https://governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/newsarticle?articleId=11843 To learn more about the Virginia Economic Development Partnership visit: www.yesvirginia.org