Gov. Bob McDonnell in telephone press conference from Tel Aviv Monday said he hopes to "have some announcements in the next 60 days or so" that Israeli companies will be expanding in Virginia.
"These international trade missions, while they are both time consuming and labor intensive for our staff - and expensive - we think they generate immense good will between Virginia and these other countries," McDonnell said. "But more importantly a tremendous economic development. If just one of these major companies that we met with today chooses to come to Virginia or expand in Virginia the return in terms of tax payer dollars will be met."
McDonnell is on a two week "job creation and economic marketing mission to Israel and India.
The governor said his meetings with 66 Israeli companies and Israeli President Shimon Perez have been positive and productive. He noted that the commonwealth is the first state to establish a relationship with the Israeli Manufacturers Association, which represents more than 2000 companies in Israel.
He said he hopes to attract Israeli bio-tech firms to the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park in Richmond and telecommunications and technology companies to Northern Virginia.
"We think with the leadership role Israel plays in technology and bio-tech there are additional commercial innovation opportunities where they night be able pursue," McDonnell said. "It's going to be one of the areas we focus on in the upcoming session, is biotechnology. It's an area where Virginia can clearly grow and expand."
McDonnell leaves Israel Monday for India where he will open the state's third foreign trade office in Mumbai. The commonwealth currently has trade offices in China and the United Kingdom.
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