| Date: |
22-11-2011 |
| Subject: |
Virginia Hopes to Boost ag Exports to India |
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Gov. Bob McDonnell wrapped up his two-week foreign excursion Monday by announcing plans to boost Virginia’s agriculture and forestry exports to the growing Indian economy.
The Virginia Agriculture Export Initiative creates new opportunities to sell apples, wine, soybeans, lumber and other crops and fills a void in India’s agriculture portfolio. As it stands, Virginia exports just $3.2 million worth of agriculture products to India each year, compared to nearly $200 million to China.
“We’ve got to be on the ground in places,” McDonnell said. “We think it’s going to have tremendous opportunities.”
New Delhi-based i2iConsulting will represent Virginia’s agricultural and forestry interests in India.
McDonnell’s announcement comes on the final hours of his 12-day trip to Israel and India where he promoted Virginia’s film, wine and tourism industries to encourage partnerships with foreign businesses and governments. The governor said he expects to make public at least a couple deals with Indian companies in the next 30 days with more to follow in the coming months.
The governor heads back to the United States later Monday before receiving state finance predictions from the Governor’s Advisory Council on Revenue Estimates in anticipation of the biennial budget he will deliver to the General Assembly in December.
Source : washingtonexaminer.com
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