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Virginia Governors Have Long History of Travel Abroad

AP Photo/Christophe Ena

  

Going out to eat in London? Depending on where you are, you may now be able to order a bottle of wine made here in Virginia. Those are the kinds of export, import deals Virginia’s Governor is making as he travels across the UK, Germany, and Belgium this week. 

Such international trips are business as usual for the state. 

Since taking office two years ago, Governor Terry McAuliffe has been to India, China, South Korea, even Cuba.

“Virginia has been every active in engaging the global economy,” says Stuart Malawer, a professor of international trade at George Mason University. “Governor McAuliffe has been particular successful and it’s only been two years so far.”

McAuliffe is continuing a bit of a tradition for the Commonwealth. In a ten year period, Virginia’s governors traveled abroad more than 30 times. That was more than any other state during the same period.

Malawer says such trips provide a return on investment for taxpayers, who are often the ones footing the bill. But, last year the Associated Press analyzed trade missions by all 50 governors in the country and concluded success can really be hit or miss.

It looks like a success so far for McAuliffe this time though. On this most recent trip, he’s attended the world’s largest industrial fair, struck a new lumber export deal with a company in Germany, and put Virginia’s wine on London’s tables.

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