State of Georgia seeks international business opportunities

ATLANTA, November 4, 2010—The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is leading trade-based travel activities to Cuba, Turkey, Germany and other countries to broaden international trade opportunities available for Georgia companies.  These activities comprise more than twenty international missions and tradeshows planned to promote export opportunities during the 2011 fiscal year. 'As with all of our international trade focused activities, we seek to explore, develop and foster strategic relationships abroad that are beneficial to Georgia companies,' said Heidi Green, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.  'Our intent is to keep Georgia well positioned on the global stage so that companies in our state can sufficiently leverage international trade opportunities.' GDEcD representatives will participate in the Feria Internacional de la Habana (FIHAV), commonly known as the Havana International Fair, in Havana, Cuba November 1-6.  Building on a mission led by Governor Perdue to Cuba in June 2010, Georgia's participation in this international tradeshow seeks to explore additional opportunities in the life sciences and telecommunications industries, which are both areas of strategic focus for Georgia. Cuba has a well developed biotech sector, and Georgia is a key supplier of quality medical products.  The telecommunications industry is an area of significant need for Cuba, so GDEcD representatives will explore potential opportunities for Georgia companies to develop relationships with Cuba should federal regulations allow for broader trade opportunities in the future.  In addition to the life sciences and telecommunications sectors, Georgia companies attending this fair also represent the agriculture industry, which is the mainstay of Cuba's economy.  Georgia maintains a relationship with Cuba primarily founded on the export of poultry and other agriculture products from Georgia to Cuba. Georgia's top exports to Cuba include poultry, soybeans, pork, sausage, and margarine. In other international trade events, Georgia will lead a delegation of medical companies from the state to Dusseldorf, Germany November 17-20 for MEDICA 2010, the world's premier tradeshow for medical devices, technologies and healthcare IT.  Georgia's life science industry has more than doubled in the past decade and now ranks seventh among the 50 U.S. states.  The state is also home to more than 300 bioscience companies, including 100 medical device companies, focused primarily on cardiovascular, neurological, orthopedic, reproductive/abdominal and pediatric devices. GDEcD is also hosting a trade mission to Istanbul, Turkey, January 30-February 5, 2011.  This multi-industry trade mission will include one-on-one matchmaking appointments for Georgia companies.  Businesses participating in this mission can also attend the Win World of Industry I show, an international expo consisting of four industrial fairs. Turkey is a strategic international trade market for Georgia, and is one of the state's larger export partners with 2009 exports totaling $396 million.  Also in 2009, the United States was Turkey's sixth-largest trade partner and the country's fourth-largest source of imports.  Georgia leads all U.S. states in exports to Turkey of paper and paperboard, wood pulp, meat, wood, salt, sulfur, earth and stone, and cork.  The state's exports to Turkey increased from 2008 to 2009 by 29 percent. Georgia companies interested in registering for this mission should contact Ms. Taube Ponce, GDEcD Senior International Trade Manager, 404-962-4118 or [email protected]. About GDEcD The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm, the lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, locating new markets for Georgia products, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.  For more information, visit www.georgia.org. Upcoming GDEcD international trade activities include: International Missions: Canada I (2010) Chile I (2010) Mexico I (2010) Brazil (2011) Canada II (2011) Chile II (2011) Israel (2011) Mexico II (2011) Northern China (2011) Turkey (2011) International Tradeshows and Events: ACF 2010 in Atlanta (2010) MEDICA 2010 DOMOTEX 2011 International Poultry Expo (2011) In-coming Buyers Mission (2011) Industry-Specific Company Profiles (China) Industrial Product Promotion (China) SEUS – Canada 2011