Getting stories others seem to miss

Below is a link to get reports on the impact exports have on each state:
http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/state_reports/index.html

The Virginia page URL is:
http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/industry/otea/state_reports/virginia.html

Some quick stats:

• About 15 percent of all manufacturing jobs in Virginia depend on exports
• Almost 4,500 companies export goods from Virginia
• A bit more than 3,700 of those companies have fewer than 500 employees.
• Foreign investment in Virginia was responsible for 4.5 percent of the state’s total private-industry employment in 2005

Of Virginia's 30 top markets, exports to Portugal grew the fastest over the 2002-2006 period, increasing from $35 million to $202 million (up 484 percent). Other fast-growing major markets included Singapore (up 456 percent), India (up 181 percent), China (up 156 percent), and Colombia (up 128 percent).

So I ask:

• Where are the stories about the Portuguese, Singapore and Colombian economies and societies?
• What changed in these countries (and the others) that prompted more purchases from Virginia?
• Or what changed in Virginia exports that led to more sales to these countries?