Description:
Virginia's economic growth is increasingly dependent on services rather than products. This includes such services as information technology, security, engineering, and environmental. Many of these services are in high demand in countries around the world.

Issues Facing Virginia:
• Service companies are often hesitant to pursue exporting due to a lack of awareness of international opportunities, thereby foregoing potential sales.

• Service exports contribute to Virginia's technological innovation, growth in skilled jobs and global competitiveness.

• Virginia should provide its service industries with international business development assistance designed specifically for their needs.

Task Force Goals:
• Define the service sectors in Virginia with the greatest export potential and define the best international markets for each sector.

• Grow service exports by identifying assistance required in international marketing and take steps to deliver that assistance.

Illustrating the Value: From February 2006 to February 2007, U.S. service exports increased $2.6 billion. U.S. service exports totaled approximately $410 billion in 2006.

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