RICHMOND, VA -  The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) today announced that Moog Components Group received the 2013 Commonwealth of Virginia Governor's Award for Excellence in International Trade. The award was presented at the Virginia Conference on World Trade in Williamsburg. Moog Components Group, based in Blacksburg, Virginia and a business segment of Moog Inc., is an innovative motion company that specializes in the design and manufacture of slip rings, motors, actuators, resolvers, solenoids and air moving solutions. The company has related capabilities for avionic instruments and fiber optic products.

The Commonwealth of Virginia Governor's Award for Excellence in International Trade recognizes a Virginia business that has excelled in global trade. The recipient of the award will have increased its export and international profile while promoting the best interests of its employees and surrounding community. Therefore, the recipient will have contributed to the overall economic health and quality of life of Virginians while increasing the Commonwealth's profile in the international export arena in a positive light.

Moog Components joined VEDP's Virginia Leaders in Export Trade (VALET) program as part of the 12th class in July 2007. Launched in January 2002, the program assists exporters in the Commonwealth that have firmly established domestic operations and are committed to international exporting as an expansion strategy. Currently, the VALET program has 47 companies as participants, and more than 200 Virginia companies have been accepted to participate.

While in the two-year VALET program, Moog Components Group increased its international sales by $12 million. The company continues to work with VEDP as part of its Going Global Defense Initiative.

Per Greg Boyer, Moog Components Group's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, "Our association with VEDP has grown from being a VALET member to utilizing a much broader range of the available assistance, including participation in trade missions, foreign country market analysis, representation assistance and export infrastructure compliance verification. This type of relationship is a critical piece of our overall export strategy."

Moog Components Group is active in the Far East, Middle East, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Moog Components operates five facilities in Virginia, employing over 1,200 in the Commonwealth.

"Moog Components Group is a true Virginia success story, and we are proud that the company calls Virginia home while expanding its global reach," said Paul Grossman, VEDP Vice President of International Trade.