McDonnell, on trade trip, reaches Shanghai

Gov. Bob McDonnell arrived in Shanghai today for the next leg of his economic development trip, having spent several days in Japan encouraging companies with business interests in Virginia to consider more.

In a conference call from Shanghai, where it’s about 12 hours ahead, McDonnell said he had seven one-on-one meetings with CEOs at some of Japan’s largest companies and had a general reception for about 20 other companies that don’t currently do business in Virginia so that he could make a pitch.

He said he talked to several companies about investing in the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing near the new Rolls Royce plant in Prince George County. And, he talked up the state’s business climate as well as new incentives for companies to increase container shipments at the state’s ports.

China and Japan rank second and 11th, respectively, on Virginia’s list of export markets, while South Korea ranks in the top 30.

McDonnell said he’s the first governor to visit Japan since the devastating earthquake and tsunami that killed tens of thousands there. He said his hotel requested the thermostat be kept at 78 despite warm temperatures because of energy concerns.

– Richmond Times Dispatch, by Olympia Meola, May 10, 2011