GROW Security helps grow 24 Georgia companies' global exports

Twenty-four Georgia companies met with five international buyers/manufacturers' representatives from Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Israel for the GROW Security event, a free-of-charge event for qualified Georgia companies in the defense and security sectors held April 13-17, 2015 in Atlanta and Savannah.

Georgia companies that participated are already in the process of discussing future business relationships with international buyers.

The event, part of the State's efforts to expand Georgia exports, gave Georgia suppliers the opportunity to meet locally with prospective partners without the expense of international travel.

The international buyers/manufacturers had been recruited and vetted by Georgia's representative offices in those respective countries. GDEcD worked with the World Trade Center Savannah for the Savannah part of the event.

In addition to the one-on-one company meetings, the international participants enjoyed company tours at the Guardian Centers of Georgia facility in Perry; Daniel Defense headquarters in Ellabel, GA; and Digitus Biometrics headquarters in Savannah.

Post-event, the international buyers/representatives indicated that they expect to be able to do business with many of the Georgia companies with which they met.

GROW events in previous years have produced over $3.7 million in export sales to date. GDEcD expects future business relationships to develop and export sales to take place in the future from the connections made during the GROW Security event.