Governor McDonnell Discusses Economic Development, Trade with Irish Prime Minister

The following is a release from Governor McDonnell's office:

"Governor Bob McDonnell met this afternoon with the new Prime Minister of Ireland, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, to discuss economic development and trade between Virginia and Ireland.  He was joined at the meeting in Washington, D.C. by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng.

 Speaking about today’s meeting, Governor McDonnell remarked, “It was a pleasure to meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny today. Virginia has a strong and long standing trade relationship with Ireland, and that relationship supports great jobs for our citizens.  Ireland is one of the top recipients of agricultural exports from the Commonwealth, jumping from 16^th in 2009 to 10^th in 2010, and they rank 23^rd in total exports from Virginia.  As this Administration continues to place a greater emphasis on the export of Virginia’s goods and products around the world, Ireland will remain an extremely important trading partner.”

 Ireland ranked 23^rd in Virginia export destinations in 2009, with a total of $148.3 million in goods exported to Ireland from Virginia.  Ireland is now Virginia’s 10^th largest agricultural export market per new 2010 figures.  The top three export products are: animal feed ($47 million worth of products); soybeans, grains, fruits ($6 million); and, hardwood lumber and miscellaneous wood ($1 million).  In addition, approximately $45,000 worth of Virginia made beverages, including Virginia wines, were exported to Ireland in 2010.  This is mostly new business started in the last two years."