Governor Spanberger concluded here week long international economic trade mission to the United Kingdom, Italy and France, where she met with global leaders to strengthen Virginia’s trade relationships and position the Commonwealth for future investments, her office announced.
The Governor was joined throughout the mission by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier, and representatives from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC), and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).
“Virginia competes on a global stage, and this week, we made our case directly to the leaders deciding where to invest and grow,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “At every stop and in every meeting, the message was the same: Virginia has the workforce, the infrastructure, and the partnership mindset that serious, long-term investors are looking for. In six months, we have already brought more than $5 billion in new business investment and more than 3,000 new jobs to communities across the Commonwealth. This mission was about strengthening the connections that will keep that momentum going.”
“These conversations don’t end when we get back to Richmond,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery. “Every meeting we had this week plants a seed, and our job now is to follow through and make sure that when these companies are ready to make a decision, Virginia is the easy and trusted choice. That kind of follow-through is part of what makes Virginia a top state for business and a place where world-class companies continue to invest.”
Gov. Spanberger also used the mission to advance Virginia’s agricultural and forestry trade relationships abroad, building on the effort to develop the state’s first-ever Farm and Forestry Prosperity plan.
“Access to international markets is essential for our agriculture and forestry industries,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Katie Frazier. “The discussions we had and the relationships built during this week are critical to the promotion and global visibility of the incredible products that the Commonwealth has to offer. I look forward to continuing the work as we return home to solidify Virginia as a leader in the global marketplace for agricultural and forest products.”
Throughout the mission, the Governor and delegation had the opportunity to cultivate government relationships, including meeting with Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) President Massimiliano Fedriga while in Italy. During the meeting, Governor Spanberger and President Fedriga committed to building upon the 2025 MOU between FVG and Virginia by working together in the areas of forestry, wine research, and cultural exchanges. This partnership began with a 2025 MOU between FVG and Virginia.
“This was a productive trade mission with long-term goals for Virginia,” said Governor Spanberger. “We continue to do the steady work of building relationships and promoting our Commonwealth because that’s how we turn a good meeting today into a valuable investment in Virginia and our workforce a year or two from now. That’s how we keep building a stronger, more affordable Virginia for every family.”
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