Gov. Glenn Youngkin is headed to Europe next week on his third international trade mission.
He is scheduled to meet with President Alexander Stubb of Finland as well as with business executives, trade associations and officials there and in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Zurich, Switzerland.
Separately, Youngkin met with the British Trade Envoy for the United States Conor Burns to begin discussions on a United Kingdom-Virginia Memorandum of Understanding on trade and economic cooperation.
Youngkin will be traveling on the trade mission from April 28 to May 3.
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The aim is to further strengthen Virginia’s economic and cultural connections, which already include the 119 German firms operating here, 30 from Switzerland, 13 from Denmark, and eight from Finland.
“This economic development trade mission with strong European partners will build on business relations, our shared priorities and highlight the Commonwealth’s capabilities,” Youngkin said.
He’s planning to stress Virginia’s workforce strengths, the business climate, port and transportation links to the rest of the United States and the state’s schools and universities.
“Germany, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland represent critical markets that will advance economic growth and prosperity in Virginia,” Youngkin said.
“In strengthening these relationships, we are not only reaffirming our commitment to economic development in the Commonwealth but also strengthening the spirit of Virginia,” he added.
The talks on the British memorandum of understanding also aim at enhancing close ties with a major trade and investment partner.
The memorandum of understanding “is a signpost document” that “starts off with the declaration of intent that both sides want to … declare the intent for the UK and this specific state to try and do more together: economically, investment, trade, services,” Burns said.
The United Kingdom has signed such agreements with eight states, including some that Youngkin has identified as Virginia’s top economic development rivals: Florida, North Carolina and Texas.
“Given the incredible history between the UK as it is now and the state of Virginia, this is a really exciting one for us, you know, Virginia was the arrival point,” Burns said.
“And we’re very struck that in many ways, Virginia can be a very, very important entry point to the wider U.S. market with 47% of the U.S. population within a one-day drive.”
Burns said “there are lots of reasons why Virginia is a very exciting, appropriate fit in the development” of Britain’s memorandum of understanding program.
Youngkin’s first trade mission, to Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, in April 2023 resulted in the opening of Virginia’s first trade office in that country.
Later that year, he attended the 2023 International Paris Air Show to meet with aerospace principals, defense companies and other industry leaders.
Stubb, the Finnish president, was elected to that office in February; he served as prime minister from 2014 to 2015 when as leader of the conservative National Coalition Party he brought together five political parties to form a parliamentary majority.
When, after the 2015 election cost the National Coalition Party its position as the largest in parliament, the new prime minister appointed him minister of finance, where he served for two years.
Stubb went to college at Furman University in South Carolina, where he won a golf scholarship.
Dave Ress (804) 649-6948