Kaine says Virginia vying for UAE investment
Eva Russo/Times-Dispatch
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine offered few details on the proposed deal, which he described as being in its early stages.
Virginia is one of two states competing for a sizeable economic development investment being considered by a Dubai-based company, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine told reporters during an overseas conference call this morning.
Kaine, who arrived in United Arab Emirates early this morning after a three-day stay in Israel, sounded encouraged by meetings held with the company and was preparing to continue economic development discussions at a dinner this evening with the U.S. ambassador. Dubai is eight hours ahead of Virginia.
"We've had a very good afternoon here," Kaine said.
The governor offered few details on the potential deal, which he described as in the early stages. But he said officials from the Dubai-based company had visited Virginia, and that it made sense to pay a visit to pitch the state as the right place to do business.
"When you're trying to make your best case, sometimes personal presence really matters," Kaine said.
The governor said the deal would involve a "sizeable economic development in a part of the state that can use it and sizeable jobs. And it would be in an area that would really take advantage of a lot of natural strengths that Virginia has."
During the conference call the governor addressed another economic issue closer to home -- Virginia's unemployment rate. He addressed House Republicans' recent rejection of changing Virginia law to qualify for an additional $125 million in federal stimulus money to provide benefits to part-time workers and laid off workers in training programs.
Kaine reiterated his willingness to call a special session of the General Assembly, but only if House Republicans signal they are willing to change their vote -- and Virginia law -- to allow the commonwealth to get the funds, which are available for 27 months.
"I think it would be a shame to wait until the next session," Kaine said. "I can't imagine calling one without the House at least showing a willingness to rethink their vote," he added.
So far, more than 9,000 people have signed the "Stand Up For Virginia" online petition posted by Kaine's Moving Virginia Forward political action committee.
Kaine moves forward on Thursday, traveling to Morocco, where he and wife Anne Holton and the rest of his trade mission will be the guests of the Kingdom of Morocco, where they will also discuss trade with Virginia. Kaine returns to the U.S. on Saturday afternoon.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
When will people get it? We have a Government for the Government run by the Government Federal, State and Local! Kaine wants to bring in a Dubai-based company to Richmond, sounds like a Qimonda repeat. “I am very sorry for the local people who lost jobs”, I worked there for a short time! From six figures down to $10 bucks an hour, so pride has nothing to do with it or was it a problem for me. They shut down anyway! Giving foreign company’s tax incentives / money like Qimonda “somewhere around 70 million from VA tax payers annually. Rumor has it they had the nerve to request the annual payment, handout, bailout, welfare, whatever earlier than normal maybe because they knew they were going out of business. HUMM? Smart folks in Europe.
Take this money and invest in VA based business people “U.S.” Moms and Dads that lost their jobs or shut down small companies in VA over the past 5 years due to outsourcing! Mr. Kaine your tax dollars are retreating and that’s how you fine folks in the Government get paid. Maybe you should take a pay cut? Or do government people have guarantied jobs? Sure looks like it!
Big Tobacco Company’s had a pretty smart idea to send their “contract business” overseas! Maybe in part so they don’t have to deal with the U.S. Government, every State Government, Lobbyist, Lawyers, Unions or Seattle. 20+ years of being treated like a redheaded stepchild / criminals in our wonderful defunct court system. I’m sorry to see them go-but I don’t blame them! I can not speak for the tobacco companies, it’s just too bad some of the Wall Street “Thieves” and “Crooks” didn’t leave the country instead. Or are they?
Most countries must really get a good laugh looking across the pond, at what fools we truly are! And we the people, the only ones for the people just let it continue to happen!
Service Country, I don’t think so just look at India we would have to take jobs from them. Now would that be politically correct? Or like a Chinese company in South Carolina, they bring there own people here to work. Every 6 to 12 months they rotate workers back and forth from the vacation they enjoy here! At least they are employed. Unfortunately they may have put people in VA and PA out of work. You don’t see that in the Governor of South Carolina’s very proud write up in his local news paper ad about jobs he brought to his state, now do you?
The Japanese company I worked for flipped their managers every 2 years! They sure loved Disney World and didn’t want to go back to Japan. I wonder why?
I have looked for jobs in Europe, West Coast, the North, the South you name it. Currently I work out of the northeast only to obtain a short term contract and very grateful for that. “Short term is the KEY” here folks. Getting a little long in the tooth you know and “OVER QUALIFIED” HUMM! What a joke! Only to have people who recently lost their “Managerial” jobs in Richmond tell me when they advertised job posting in the T-D for employment opportunities for former employers the “posted job ad” was fake! They just wanted to see whose shopping.
Somebody help me get some stimulus money and I’ll show you how to make a U.S. manufacturing business succeed! My company took melamine and chrome out of our products 25 years ago and our raw material cost doubled! Imagine that! I’m very happy we followed the rules as our environment matters, but the other guys play by a different set of rules, our ‘LAWS” do not apply to them. I would have gone to “JAIL” for the same infractions!
I did try to get local assistance a few times but didn’t qualify “go figure” when already in business, only to see the company shut down! I know, I just couldn’t guaranty 20% to 50% return on investment like Madoff did with his clients. Instant gratification, sorry we only employed “PEOPLE”. Some 20 to 30 people lost jobs then with 20 + years of service, it doesn’t matter that we followed the ‘LAWS” as it only help put us out of business! But like Ms California we did what we knew was right and honest! At least the James River is cleaner today and that matters so I will explain that to kids like her comeback about doing the right thing. She was great!
So if anyone out there is really surprised, as we seem to be our own worst enemy “You” do need to get your head out of the sand! Wake up this all didn’t just happen!!!! Reinvest in America, VA and our kids Mr. Kaine.
JB
Burqa factory! That’s it! I hear the demand is projected to go through the roof as soon as the Taliban finish taking over Pakistan. Maybe a company marketing kits to put those crescent-moon thingmabobbers on top of closed churches in place of crosses. Who knows? Kaine won’t tell, so let the fun begin. When he travels on the public dime we have a right to know.
What really concerns me with this story is that UAE has harbored and been a source for terrorists in the past. What are they offering in the way of business and what are the motives? They’re not the friendliest nation.
James,
Both you and the Chamber of Commerce don’t understand this. If $4.32 per employee per year is the breaking point. It’s not a business, it’s a hobby.
McRedd… go through the newspaper classifieds. There are plenty of jobs. I don’t care how many people are applying for them. They’re there. If you’re a professional as I assume someone with a Ph.D. is, you can make a good enough impression to get a job.
qhgirl also has an excellent point. We don’t always get to work where we want. If you have to move, you move.
Anon… you miss the point. It will cost the surface employer $4.32. But let’s say you’re talknig a retail establishment. It doesn’t just cost the store owner that money. It costs everyone they work with that money. And in business, stores don’t just eat cost increases. By the time everything is ironed out the store owner either raises prices or cuts jobs. You don’t raise prices during a recession. The Obama bribe will cost jobs, and Republicans are not going to be responsible for killing jobs.
There will be no special session. Nuff said.
FEBOOKER… then tell us, why didn’t they think he would stay if they didn’t know he had a Ph.D? If he told them, tell him not to.
I don’t need to argue with you about this. The bottom line is there are plenty of jobs. That is undeniable. Do they pay Ph.D wages? No, but they pay. And if he’s out of options, that’s where he has to go. If he has some pride that’s what he’ll do instead of going to welfare.
boo-hoo
“James,
“There will be no special session.“
This will cost employers $4.32 per employee per year, beginning two years from now.“
James if I recall correctly, there was a recent news story that for every job in VA there were about 5 or so people applying for it. Just saying that it may not be as easy as ‘apply for some menial, minimum-wage job and you’ll get it’ kinda thing.
Febooker… I understand that removing the education in itself won’t “fix” the fact that the guy is overqualified to deliver pizzas. I asked what his education was in.. to maybe get an idea of why Richmond hasn’t had any job openings he could compete for. I also completely stand by my suggestion to look outside the area.. I know it’s possible to get a job long distance (I myself have gotten 3 jobs in different states in the past). He might not want to have to commute so long.. but we do what is necessary to support ourselves and our families. I have a relative that finally got a job after a long work outage.. not the pay he wanted, or the exact type of work.. but hey.. he can pay his rent.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement