by InTrieste
From September 29 to October 2, a delegation from the U.S. state of Virginia, along with eight American companies, will visit Friuli Venezia Giulia to strengthen economic and commercial ties.
The mission, organized by the Virginia Small Business Development Center (Virginia SBDC), marks the second such initiative following a successful first edition. The visit builds on a bilateral agreement signed in October 2024 between Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Governor Massimiliano Fedriga and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“The mission reflects the strong operational ties between Friuli Venezia Giulia and an important U.S. state like Virginia,” Governor Fedriga said. “Both territories are committed to expanding their shared interests.”
The participating companies span multiple sectors, including security, materials engineering, life sciences, information and communications technology, and Industry 4.0. They include Ensco Microsearch (security), Sweet Science (promotion), Laser Thermal (materials engineering), Jeeva and Liquet (life sciences), Spanalytics (ICT and cybersecurity), Opswat (cybersecurity), and Oransi (Industry 4.0). Virginia SBDC will coordinate the companies’ engagements with regional economic partners.
In addition, a Virginia institutional delegation will accompany the companies, featuring Matthew Lohr, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, and Robert Davenport, Director of Marketing and Development at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, who serves as a liaison for agricultural initiatives under the bilateral agreement.
The program, organized by Select Friuli Venezia Giulia in collaboration with regional departments covering labor, economic development, agriculture, health, and cultural heritage, will include a packed schedule of meetings. Support is also being provided by the Alto Adriatico and Udine branches of Confindustria, as well as Confapi.
Governor Fedriga emphasized the region’s commitment to showcasing its economic potential, noting that the mission represents an additional step toward strengthening commercial relations with Virginia and fostering new business opportunities.
