Rockefeller speaks at trade reception

2007-07-23

Source: The Journal

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller gave opening remarks Sunday night in Shepherdstown, kicking off the 2007 West Virginia Homeland Security Trade Mission.

The trade mission, hosted by the Discover the REAL West Virginia Foundation, will bring together security and biometrics industry executives who will have the opportunity to explore business partnerships, research enterprises and investment opportunities in West Virginia. The mission will include two and a half days of business meetings and tours of security firms in the Eastern Panhandle, Morgantown, Clarksburg and Fairmont.

“What we’re entering into tonight is the constant effort to bring more jobs to West Virginia and to the Eastern Panhandle,” Rockefeller, D.-W.Va., said in an interview with The Journal. “...This is an effort to get them interested in becoming a part of our community. Some of them already are. What you need is intensity, focus and a real desire to get some things done and get people over here.”

The purpose of the trade mission is to showcase the state as a market for homeland security and biometrics-related firms. The Discover the REAL West Virginia Foundation will partner with the West Virginia Development Office, local economic developers and several homeland security-related firms in the state to attract national and international firms in the security industry, many of whom have representatives on hand for the trade mission.

“They are all first-class companies. They’re all very big companies,” Rockefeller said.

During the mission, delegation members will tour several homeland security-related firms in the Eastern Panhandle and the Northern Central region of the state, and meet with other officials from agencies and organizations engaged in this sector.

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