MARCH 2019
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) promotes Fairfax County, Virginia, as one of the world's best business locations, and our offices around the globe work with businesses interested in expanding in the U.S. market. We are delighted to have this opportunity to tell you about some of our recent work at our Tysons headquarters and our satellite offices to help companies.
NEWS FROM OUR INDIA OFFICE
FCEDA Road Show makes four stops across India

Four cities in 10 days. That was the schedule in February when the FCEDA Emerging Technologies Roadshow visited the key Indian cities of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune and Delhi.

The tour promoted Fairfax County as a choice business destination for Indian IT companies. Speakers spotlighted opportunities in the emerging technologies of data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and blockchain. 
The FCEDA met with more than 80 company executives, many of whom indicated an interest in learning more or possibly expanding their business to the county.

During the event in Bangalore, the FCEDA announced that Systech Services Limited had just begun operations in Fairfax County, establishing its office in the Tysons area. The company specializes in cybersecurity and is looking to promote their new product – Kavach (which means “armor” in Hindi) in the U.S. market.

By tour’s end, many attendees had demonstrated a sincere appreciation for the time and effort taken by a local county government organization such as the FCEDA to provide information about the business ecosystem and business expansion opportunities.
Binu Thomas, head of the India region for Paladion, speaks during the FCEDA Road Show for Emerging Technologies in Bangalore.  Also pictured are (l to r) Bonny Agarwal, manager of the FCEDA’s India office, Rashmi Kumar, vice president of sales and strategy for Systech Services, and Juhi Naithani, FCEDA business development manager for India. (Photo, IACC)
Among the dignitaries attending the FCEDA’s India Road Show in February were (l to r) Mohan Rajamani, senior vice chairman Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Karnataka; Vikram Mangharam, chairman, IACC Karnataka;  Krupalatha Martin Dass, founder, Sukrupa; Rashmi Kumar, vice president sales and strategy for Systech Services; Binu Thomas, head of India region for Paladion; Juhi Naithani, FCEDA business development manager for  India; Jitika Narang, branch secretary, IACC Karnataka; Bonny Agarwal, manager of the FCEDA India office; Navya S K, IACC Karnataka (Photo, IACC)
FCEDA reps attend Datacloud India event 

On Feb. 13, the FCEDA’s Juhi Naithani was a panelist at the inaugural Datacloud India event at the Westin, Gurgaon. She participated in the discussion “Enabling the Digital Economy – Infrastructure Investment and Development Requirements.”

Datacloud has been touted as the defining forum for international data center, cloud and edge executives. Datacloud also provided a forum for the launch of Interglobix magazine, a new publication being published in the Herndon area of Fairfax County. The issue featured a Fairfax County cybersecurity story by Asher Kotz, the FCEDA’s business development manager for cybersecurity.
Speaking at the Datacloud India event were panelists (l to r) Alex Rabbetts, managing director, European Data Centre Association; Juhi Naithani, FCEDA business development manager, India; Vikas Kanungo, senior consultant – Digital Development Unit, The World Bank (India); Narendra Sen, CEO, Rackbank Datacenters Pvt. Ltd. (Photo, Interglobix)
Interactive session at IMC Merchants’ Chamber

The FCEDA attended an interactivesession regarding business opportunities in the U.S. for pharma and IT companies on January 14 in Mumbai.

The event was organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. Multiple attendees expressed an interest in expanding to the U.S. and were open to learning about the benefits of Fairfax County.
Intersolar India 2018

Intersolar India, the world’s leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners, held its 2018 session in December at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. 

The FCEDA was on hand to meet with companies from around the world who shared an interest in increasing the amount of solar energy being utilized. Some of those companies are also interested in bringing their technologies to the U.S.
Bangalore Tech Summit

The FCEDA met with company representatives at the Bangalore Tech Summit on November 29. A strategic platform for industries and technologies to better understand and to leverage the latest technical innovations, the theme of this year’s event was Innovation and Impact. 

Two weeks earlier, the FCEDA was in Mumbai for the Business Opportunities/Business Immigration in USA event, hosted by the Federation of Indian Export organizations. The seminar’s objective was to educate Indian companies about available opportunities in the world of export as well as opportunities in the U.S.
NEWS FROM OUR HOME OFFICE
Business is booming in Fairfax County

The FCEDA reported that it worked with 142 companies, leading to the creation of nearly 8,900 new jobs in the county in 2018. Of those 142 firms, 43 hail from countries outside the U.S.

 “The 2018 announcements reflect Fairfax County’s growing economic diversity, its skilled workforce, and the availability of prime office and tech space that is attractive to major corporations,” said Catherine Riley, interim president of the FCEDA. “Companies have many choices on where to locate and expand, and we are proud that so many firms chose Fairfax County as a base from which to grow and succeed.”

On November 13, Amazon announced that a northern Virginia site would become a destination for its second headquarters (HQ2). That decision will ultimately create tens of thousands of jobs and billions ofdollars of investment in the Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia region.

Having HQ2 in northern Virginia is expected to bring important jobs, business diversity and innovation to Fairfax County. Importantly, it will serve to attract global companies that wish to work with Amazon and create opportunities to build partnerships.  Proximity tothe federal government and Washington Dulles International Airport as well as an exceptional talent base from which to draw continue to be other factors for major companies to select Fairfax County and the northern Virginia region.

Latest numbers place the number of foreign-owned companies in the county at 437, including 64 from the U.K., 64 from Korea, 34 from Israel and 30 from India. European firms with German, French and Dutch ownership account for 74 more firms.
Sign of the times: Construction cranes loom over the Tysons, Virginia skyline where high-rise, multi-use projects are creating more jobs and more opportunities for a variety of companies (Photo, FCEDA)
FCEDA joins in celebration of United’s nonstop service between Dulles and Tel Aviv

More than 200 members of the Washington-area air travel and business communities turned out in Tysons on February 21 to celebrate United Airlines’ upcoming nonstop service between Washington Dulles International Airport and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. 

“Our organization is very excited with the conclusion of a project that started about 10 years ago,” said Jan Mul, international marketing director of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), which collaborated with United Airlines and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) in organizing the gala. “From an economic development perspective, I cannot stress enough the importance of Dulles International Airport in our region.
 
“It is not for nothing that companies such as Amazon, Volkswagen, Hilton and many more have selected this region as home for their headquarters. When you read about the rationale for their decision, you hear [about] the high-qualify workforce, diversity and the proximity to an international airport.”

Dulles International sits at the western edge of Fairfax County, about 25 miles from Washington, D.C.  The airport serves as a hub for United Airlines, which will begin its Dulles-to-Tel Aviv service on May 22.

Jack Potter, president and CEO of MWAA, and Steve Morrissey, United’s vice president of international regulatory and policy, agreed that they’d like nothing more than to see the service, which will initially operate three times a week, expand to daily service in short order.

“The Washington-Tel Aviv air travel market has grown by more than 40 percent in the past five years, showing clear demand for this important route,” Potter said.

“I am very excited for the direct flights,” said Yifat Alon-Perel, minister for economic and trade affairs at the Israeli Embassy. “I think it will be wonderful for the business community. I foresee more and more Israeli companies coming to this area and, hopefully, more American businessmen from the Fairfax County area engaging with Israel.”
Among those attending the February 21 United Airlines gala at the Hyatt in Tysons, Virginia were (l tor) Yil Surehan, vice president, business development for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA); Steve Morrissey, United Airlines vice president, regulatory and policy; Yifat Alon-Perel, minister for economic and trade affairs, Embassy of Israel; Jan Mul, international marketing director, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA); Jack Potter, president and CEO of the MWAA.  (Photo, MWAA).
KPMG makes major commitment to Fairfax County

KPMG LLP is headquartered globally in Amstelveen, Netherlands, but it’s growing by leaps and bounds in Fairfax County.

The company, one of the world’s largest professional services firms, recently announced it will invest more than $30 million to expand its Tysons operations in Fairfax County with a project that will create more than 500 new jobs.

KPMG will occupy up to seven floors of the 20-story Boro Tower which is nearing completion. 

“We’re committed to Fairfax County and are excited about the growth that we’re seeing here in world-class innovation and leading-edge technology – two areas that align with our own core services and strategic approach” said Jerry Carlson, who oversees KPMG professionals in the Washington Metro area. KPMG, which specializes in financial, tax and advisory services, has more than 200,000 worldwide employees and will have close to 2,000 in Fairfax County.
Global augmented identity firm IDEMIA moves North American HQ to Fairfax County

IDEMIA, based in Paris, announced on December 19 that it will relocate its North American headquarters to Reston in Fairfax County from Billerica, Mass., outside of Boston. The company is planning a ribbon-cutting event in the spring to celebrate its new space.

The company, a trusted partner to U.S. government agencies for more than 50 years, is a leading innovator in biometric technology and solutions used by states and many federal agencies, including the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security.

IDEMIA, which will create 90 new jobs in its Fairfax County location, provides 80 percent of all U.S. driver’s licenses and ID-issuance solutions for 37 of 50 U.S. states.
Find FCEDA on Instagram!

As part of the larger mission of promoting Fairfax County as one of the world’s best business locations, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) has launched an Instagram account, adding this platform to its social media portfolio. 

The FCEDA Instagram account ( https://www.instagram.com/fairfaxcountyeda ) will provide updates and information on Fairfax County business news, announcements along with facts and statistics highlighting the Fairfax County economy.  

The FCEDA can also be found on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. 

Want to know more about the services of the FCEDA, or how economic development helps Fairfax County? Visit the  FCEDA  website or e-mail us at  info@fceda.org .

Offices worldwide: 
Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul, Tel Aviv

Fairfax County: "One of the great economic success stories of our time" -- Time magazine


Fairfax County Economic Development Authority - Headquarters
8300 Boone Boulevard, Suite 450
Tysons, Virginia 22182
Telephone: +1 703-790-0600
Fax: +1 703-893-1269
E-mail:  info@fceda.org