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Contact: Alan Fogg, afogg@fceda.org,
703-790-0600 (office) or 571-213-5065 (mobile)
Governor Kaine praises Fairfax County as “spectacular” business location
Virginia governor keynotes Fairfax County EDA event in London
London , United Kingdom, November 15, 2006 – In a speech to 150 senior business figures at an event organized by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) in London, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine praised Fairfax County as a “truly spectacular place for doing business in the U.S.” and said the Fairfax economy “has been the engine that has really driven Virginia to economic success.”
The Trans-Atlantic Business Networking Evening attracted a variety of businesses interested in setting up operations in Fairfax County – as well as some of the many companies who have already chosen the county as their base for U.S. operations. British companies with operations in Fairfax County include: Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Serco, Strategic Thought and 2sms.
Governor Kaine, who is on an inward investment mission to Europe, pointed out that about 50 companies from the United Kingdom have operations in Fairfax County, almost half of the total for Virginia. He said Fairfax’s location adjacent to Washington, D.C., along with a number of other factors had driven the county to its economic prominence today.
Virginia has one of the best tax and regulatory climates in the U.S, the governor said. The state is connected with the global market place through its ports and Washington Dulles International Airport. “We pride ourselves on the relations we have with foreign investors,” he said.
In the historic Inner Temple Hall, one of the homes of the English legal profession in the City of London, the governor noted the Jamestown settlement of 1607 and links with Britain since then. Buckingham Palace announced today that Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will visit Virginia in May 2007 to mark the 400th anniversary of the settlers’ landing at Jamestown.
Since 1998, the FCEDA (www.fairfaxcountyeda.org) has built strong relations with businesses and industry organizations throughout Britain. The networking reception was co-hosted by BritishAmerican Business (www.babinc.org). Sponsors included 2sms, Crowell Moring, Dahl Morrow International, EDS, F.W. Stephens, Serco, South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), and the US Commercial Service of the U.S. Embassy.
“This was the FCEDA’s sixth annual major networking reception in London, and once again it was a huge success for maintaining old links and establishing important, new relationships,” said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA.
Business growth helps Fairfax County, just outside Washington, D.C., fund public services such as a top-ranked public school system and library, public safety, social services and park systems that improve the quality of life. Fairfax County offers diverse real estate opportunities, access to domestic and international markets through Washington Dulles International Airport, a business community based on technology and professional services, and a well-educated workforce.
 For photos from the event, click here.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority ( www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org), which has been recognized by Site Selection magazine as one of the top economic development groups, promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA maintains offices worldwide in Silicon Valley, Bangalore, Frankfurt, London, Seoul and Tel Aviv.
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