As the calendar officially turns to spring, more than just the sun will start to shine brighter on South Carolina. The glare of the global spotlight will also intensify, as several of our state's signature events will be taking place in the days ahead. On April 1-9, the largest women's-only tennis tournament in the world -- the Volvo Car Open -- will be held on Daniel Island; and, the following week, 100 miles down the coast in Hilton Head, the 49th Annual RBC Heritage will commence.
Drawing thousands of business leaders from a variety of industries, these events will once again give Team South Carolina a platform to showcase our state to the world, further solidifying South Carolina's already-strong international brand. From our unmatched warmth and hospitality to our world-class workforce and robust infrastructure network, this state has truly built a remarkable global reputation. And, with 87,000 new jobs announced since 2011 and seven consecutive record years in export sales, it appears that this success will only continue.
So, in the coming weeks, as you're enjoying some tennis or taking in some golf, remember that you're not only attending two of our state's signature events; you're helping sell South Carolina to the world.