RICHMOND, VA—Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced on Wednesday the launch of the Virginia International Trade Alliance geared to growing the Commonwealth's foreign trade business.

The alliance, which will be managed by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, will look to expand Virginia's trade program via formal partnerships with Virginia's public universities, industry associations and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Virginia is looking to build on its export business that totaled $36 billion in manufactured goods and services last year.

"As we continue to recruit new businesses to the Commonwealth, we also need to help our existing businesses export their goods and services. International trade is a key part of my plan to create private sector jobs and build a new Virginia economy that is less reliant on the federal government," the governor said.