"Chesapeake, Virginia: Globally connected, locally invested."

The City of Chesapeake, Virginia
Your International Business Connection


(English, .PDF, 1.56MB)

Today’s business starts at home, but ends on the other side of the world. Nowhere else in the Commonwealth of Virginia is that reality understood more clearly than in Chesapeake, the international business center for Virginia’s Hampton Roads.

Home to nearly one-half of the region’s total collection of foreign-based firms, Chesapeake has over 19 countries represented among its business community. But, being “globally connected” is more than just having companies from other countries in the City. It also means having, and supporting, local companies who send product, people and knowledge around the world from right here at home. It means having a telecommunications infrastructure that ensures a business in Cavalier Industrial Park can confirm an order from a customer in Munich. It means having a talented workforce that allows a company in South Norfolk to exchange CAD designs with a supplier in Shanghai instantaneously to meet a short deadline. It means having an innovative business climate that enables a small, local computer programming company in Greenbrier to respond to a competitive bid request in just hours and win, instead of in days and lose. It means having a dynamic port facility just minutes away, so a distributor in Western Branch can beat its competitors in meeting the delivery demands of its customers in Kansas City.

Sister City Partnership


In 2002, the City of Chesapeake formalized its first Sister City relationship, with the City of Joinville, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. With more than 13 Brazilian companies located in Chesapeake, the partnership was logical, and continues to create benefits for each community. In addition to the more traditional Sister City cultural, educational, and tourism programs, Chesapeake, Joinville and the government of the State of Santa Catarina work closely together to identify and create new opportunities for businesses in each community.

Click one of the links below to download in Adobe PDF file format:

(German, .PDF, 1.57MB)


(Japanese, .PDF, 1.66MB)

(Portuguese, .PDF, 1.58MB)

(Spanish, .PDF, 1.56MB)


For More Information

For more information on how your company can join Chesapeake’s dynamic global business community, follow the links below, or contact the Chesapeake Economic Development Department at 757-382-8040.

- International Business Brochure (pdf, 740kb)
- Regional Summary of International Businesses (pdf, 107kb)
- International Employers (pdf, 63kb)
- Tourism in Chesapeake
- Tourism in Joinville and Santa Catarina
- Chesapeake Business Directory (.pdf, 2MB)
- Chesapeake Business Directory (.xls, 340kb)
- Virginia Port Authority

- Consular Offices in Hampton Roads:

Belgium-Mimi Lanese (757) 422-5571
Brazil-James E. Thompson (757) 340-5820
Denmark-W.E. Rachels, Jr. (757) 628-5568
Finland-David F. Host, Jr. (757) 627-6286
France-Nicole Yancey (757) 596-2544
Germany-Manfred Schwartz (757) 486-8444
Great Britain-vacant
Iceland-Gerald L. Parks (757) 625-3658
Italy-Vito Piraino (757) 622-4898
Mexico-Roberto Rodriguez Iturralde (757) 461-553/4933
Walter W. Regirer (804) 747-1961
Netherlands-Gerald L. Parks (757) 625-3658 or (757) 431-1180
Norway-Rolf A. Williams (757) 446-7300
Panama-vacant
Sweden-Rolf A. Williams (757) 446-7300

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