RICHMOND–Governor Timothy M. Kaine will lead an international trade mission on April 22-28 to India. Joining him will be Virginia First Lady Anne Holton, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Patrick O. Gottschalk, Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra, Deputy Secretary of Finance Manju Ganeriwala, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Trade Vivek Kundra, and representatives from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP).

            Virginia business companies interested in joining the Governor’s Trade Mission to India may call VEDP at (804) 545-5800. The delegation is tentatively scheduled to visit New Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai (Bombay).

“This is a tremendous opportunity for a wide variety of Virginia businesses across the Commonwealth to reap the benefits of globalization by exporting into this dynamic marketplace,” said Governor Kaine. “I encourage businesses to join our delegation to India to increase their knowledge of this market, where a growing consumer and industrial population demands high-quality products and services.”

Before joining the business delegation in India, Kaine is scheduled to visit Japan and Hong Kong for a series of confidential business recruitment meetings.

India is the world’s tenth largest economy and the world’s largest democracy with more than one billion people. Virginia’s exports to India were valued at $80 million in 2005. Top potential sectors of export opportunity include construction and engineering services, energy generation and distribution, IT equipment, and transportation.  

The trip will be the governor’s third international trade mission. Kaine previously conducted missions to Canada and Europe. Meetings are currently being confirmed with key Indian business executives and government leaders who could be potential business partners or clients for Virginia companies. Former Governor Mark R. Warner led a trade mission to India in 2005.