Georgia is at the crossroads of global commerce. We have 10 offices located throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, each staffed with a team of experienced business professionals. We’re making international business partnerships a solid two-way street by connecting the world's key markets to Georgia.
Our trade representatives assist Georgia companies with:
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Creating market assessments and entry strategies
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Locating and pre-qualifying appropriate partners and customers
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Providing advice on current issues and local business practices
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Arranging business appointments for overseas trips
Georgia’s highly knowledgeable and well-connected trade representatives will also assist international companies that are looking to establish business or manufacturing operations in Georgia.
So, whether you’re a Georgia business looking to expand globally or an international company looking to relocate, doing business in Georgia is a win-win situation – both at home and abroad.
To locate your nearest Georgia trade, investment and tourism representatives, please use the directory of offices listed below.
International Trade Representatives
Brazil | Canada | Chile | China | Europe (Munich) | Japan | Korea | Mexico | Israel | U.K. & Ireland
Brazil
Mr. José Madeira
José Madeira serves as GDEcD’s Managing Director and primary representative in Brazil, seeking trade opportunities between Georgia and Brazilian companies and advancing the state as a desirable destination for tourism and foreign direct investment.
José has more than 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. His governmental experience includes serving as a trade and investment officer for the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations in New York and as senior international advisor for the State of MG Industry Federation in Brazil. He has held management positions at Silverton Enterprises in Colonia, N.J., and at Gerdau and Usiminas, major steel manufacturers in Brazil. His background includes extensive experience in sales, new market development and tourism.
José is managing director of World Conquer, an international business representation service that advises small and medium sized businesses as well as governmental marketing agencies on effective ways to tap into the Brazilian market. He is also a Professor of International Marketing, International Business Management and International Negotiation at the graduate level at Mackenzie Presbyterian University in São Paulo.
José holds dual citizenship in Brazil and the U.S. and has traveled extensively during his career. He graduated from Ouro Preto Federal University in Brazil and holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from Dowling College in New York. José is fluent in Portuguese, English and has a working knowledge of Spanish.
José Madeira
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Brazil
Al. Lorena 800, Suite 1602
Jardins, São Paulo, SP 01424-001 – BRAZIL
T: +55 (11) 3051.7208
jmadeira@georgia.org
Canada
Ms. Gail Morris
Gail Morris is the Managing Director of Georgia’s Canada office. She has more than 20 years experience in Canadian, U.S. and international markets including both the public and private sectors. Her expertise includes trade facilitation and promotion within the NAFTA countries, Canada and U.S. Customs, logistics and business development.
In 2003, Gail joined Trade Partners, a leading international trade consulting enterprise that advises small and medium-sized businesses as well as governmental marketing agencies on effective ways to tap into the Canadian market. Her focus was international relations development and business expansion. Her portfolio includes clients from a diverse group of industries to include environmental and energy, biotechnology and life science, high tech and automotive. Gail’s past experience includes 15 years of sales, senior account management and marketing experience with a large North American customs broker and logistics service provider. Her private sector background has afforded her experience in diverse markets such as consumer products, chemicals and construction machinery.
Gail has a qualification certificate with the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers, and is an active board member of the Organization of Women in International Trade, serving as Vice-President of Chapter Development for the Executive Committee. She is a native of Moncton, New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada and is fluent in English and French.
Ms. Gail Morris
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Canada208 Evans Avenue
208 Evans Avenue
Toronto ON M8z 1J7 - CANADA
T: (+1) 416-255-1170
gmorris@georgia.org
Chile
Mr. Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson is the Managing Director of Georgia’s Chile office. He is responsible for looking for business opportunities for Georgia companies in Chile, providing them with export assistance, attracting Chilean investment into Georgia, and promoting tourism into Georgia.
Brian joined the Chile Office in 2005. For over five years previous to this, he served as trade representative in Chile for other U.S. states and U.S. trade organizations and headed his company’s (GLS International) Consulting Division.
Throughout his career of more than 35 years, Brian has acquired extensive experience in business management, finance, international trade, and business consulting services. He has served as CEO of an IT services company and as CFO of several multinational companies, including Sodexho, the Chiquita Group and Frupac International Corporation. His career experience includes working in such countries as the Netherlands, the U.S. and Chile. Brian is fluent in Spanish and English and has a good command of German and French.
Brian, a native of Chile, holds a Civil Engineering degree from the Catholic University of Chile and an MBA degree from Adolfo Ibañez University.
Brian Wilson
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Chile
11 de Septiembre 1881, Piso 20, Oficina 2002
Providencia, Santiago – CHILE
T: +56 (2) 335.2910
bwilson@georgia.org
Additional contact:
Ms. Fiory Alcayaga
Fiory Alcayaga is the Trade Assistant to the Managing Director of the State of Georgia Chile Office.
Fiory joined Georgia’s Chile Office in 2005, and previously had over 13 years of experience as Commercial Assistant of the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency in Chile, an organization depending of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Korea, with presence in more than 100 countries.
Throughout her career Fiory has acquired extensive experience in developing activities related to international trade promotion such as searching business partners for Korean exporters among Chilean importers (match making); organizing trade missions to and from Korea, and to other neighboring countries; arranging meeting schedules for foreign exporters, government officials and mass media; market surveys; organization of trade fairs, and exhibitions, as well as leading trade missions to Seoul.
Fiory holds a Teacher of English degree from the University of Chile, and is also a Bilingual Executive Secretary, degree granted by the Manpower Training Center in Chile. She has also been a collaborator as Bilingual Executive Secretary to the Department of Temporary Services of Manpower in Chile.
Fiory Alcayaga
Trade Assistant
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Chile
11 de Septiembre 1881, Piso 20, Oficina 2002
Providencia, Santiago – CHILE
T: +56 (2) 335.2910
falcayaga@georgia.org
China
Mr. Michael Su
Michael Su joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development team in 2007 as Commercial Representative. He has lived and worked in both Georgia and China.
Michael was formerly assistant project manager of CNI Design Products in Georgia, where he was responsible for executing communications between company executives and Chinese manufacturers. He has served as executive assistant at Beijing Youth Industrial Group Company.
Michael graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He is fluent in both Mandarin Chinese and English.
Michael Su
Commercial Representative
Beijing Georgia Business Advisory Center - China Office
14th Floor, China World Office Tower 1
No. 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue
Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100004– CHINA
T: +86 (139) 111.66394
msu@georgia.org
Europe – (Munich)
Ms. Antje Abshoff
Antje Abshoff is the Managing Director of Georgia’s Europe office located in Munich, Germany. Her responsibilities are to promote economic development within Georgia by attracting new European corporate investment to the state, to support existing European investors in their Georgia expansion plans, and to oversee trade and tourism initiatives between Georgia and Europe.
Prior to her current position, Antje served as Deputy Director of the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Brussels Office and, in 2001, opened Georgia’s second European office, in Munich. Antje has also worked as Assistant Marketing Director for the German-American Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta, where she was responsible for providing consulting services to German companies in all aspects of entering or expanding in the U.S. market.
Antje regularly represents Georgia as guest speaker at prestigious U.S. investment conferences hosted by various European organizations, and offers guest lectures at a number of universities in Germany.
Antje developed an educational background in hotel and restaurant management in Germany. She then attended Cornell University in New York and the University of Georgia, from which she graduated summa cum laude with a BBA in International Business. She is a native of Düsseldorf, Germany, and is fluent in German, English, and French.
Antje Abshoff
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Europe
Im Amerika Haus, Karolinenplatz 3
80333 Munich – GERMANY
T: +49 (0) 89.517.027.40
aabshoff@georgia.org
Additional Contacts:
Mr. Nils Gerber
Nils Gerber joined the State of Georgia Europe Office as Trade Officer in September 2005. Nils consults European companies in all aspects of entering or expanding in the United States as well as assists Georgian trade in Europe.
As a former Deputy Director of the West Virginia European Office, he gained experience in economic development, transatlantic trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Prior to this, Nils served as PR-Consultant in the Energy Sector and Press Officer for the World Exposition EXPO 2000 in his hometown of Hannover, Germany.
In addition to being fluent in German and English, Nils is also proficient in French and Norwegian. He holds a Master's degree in European Law from the University of Hannover. As an intern he worked for the permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations in New York. For more than one year Nils lived as an exchange student in Norway's capital, Oslo, and traveled extensively throughout Scandinavia.
Nils Gerber
Trade Manager
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Europe
Im Amerika Haus, Karolinenplatz 3
80333 Munich – GERMANY
T: +49 (0) 89.517.027.41
ngerber@georgia.org
Mr. Franz Pastorius
Franz Pastorius joined the Munich office in 2008 as Marketing Manager after completing a six-month internship with the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service in the American Consulate, Munich. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Franz has been living in Germany since 2006. In that time, he has filled a variety of rolls including English tutor and graduate fellow at the University of Osnabrueck.
Franz graduated cum laude with honors from Davidson College with a degree in Political Science and a concentration in International Studies. He is fluent in both English and German.
Franz Pastorius
Marketing Manager
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Europe
Im Amerika Haus, Karolinenplatz 3
80333 Munich – GERMANY
T: +49 (0) 89.517.027.51
fpastorius@georgia.org
Ms. Ulrike Schauerte
Ulrike Schauerte joined the Munich office in 2005 as Office Manager. She is responsible for the administration of the Europe office as well as assisting with various marketing tasks, such as attracting new European corporate investment to Georgia as well as supporting existing European investors in their Georgia expansion plans.
Schauerte earned her Bachelor degree in Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Applied Sciences Furtwangen (Germany).
After completing her Bachelor of Business Administration studies, Ulrike spent 18 months in Atlanta working for the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States, Inc. She is a native German and speaks English, Italian and French.
Ulrike Schauerte
Office Manager
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Europe
Im Amerika Haus, Karolinenplatz 3
80333 Munich – GERMANY
T: +49 (0) 89.517.027.40
uschauerte@georgia.org
Israel
Mr. Ronen Kenan
Ronen Kenan has served in senior positions with a number of public and private companies including EDS, PRC/Raytheon, RAD Data Communications, BATM, and Corrigent Systems, successfully negotiating multi-million dollar deals with numerous strategic partners. From 2003 to 2009, he was Business Development Director for the Fairfax County (Virginia) Economic Development Authority, helping attract a number of Israeli companies to open U.S. offices. He has worked in the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. and is a seasoned entrepreneur, opening several start-up operations. Ronen’s academic background includes a Master of Science in Management Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Technology of Management from The American University in Washington, D.C.
Ronen (Ron) Kenan
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Israel
15 HaYarden Street
Tel-Mond 40600 – ISRAEL
T: +972 (9) 957.0270
rkenan@georgia.org
Japan
Ms. Yumiko Nakazono
Yumiko Nakazono is the Managing Director of Georgia’s office in Japan. Yumiko joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development in 1989 as a project manager in its Tokyo office, responsible for investment recruitment and public relations. She was named to her present position of managing director in 1994, with oversight responsibilities for the Japan Office’s investment recruitment, trade, and tourism promotion activities. When Yumiko joined the department in 1989 there were, according to GDEcD statistics, 276 Japanese companies located in Georgia. By 2009 that number had increased to about 400, with more than 35,000 employees hired by those companies in Georgia.
Before joining GDEcD, Yumiko was an assistant to the managing director of Fuji Xerox Company’s document system division. She graduated from Kagoshima University (one of the national universities in Japan) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and American literature and linguistics. She is fluent in Japanese and English.
Yumiko Nakazono
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Japan
#205 Bureau Toranomon 2-17-16 Toranomon, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-0001 – JAPAN
T: +81 (3) 3539.1676
ynakazono@georgia.org
Additional Contact:
Ms. Mayumi Sato
Mayumi Sato joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development Japan Office in March 2004 as an office manager and is an assistant to Yumiko Nakazono, Managing Director of the office. She is responsible for trade and tourism promotion, marketing research and office management.
Before joining the Japan office, Mayumi was a trade assistant of some Japanese companies and a coordinator of international meetings and symposiums at the Foundation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affiliates.
Mayumi Sato
Office Manager
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Japan
#205 Bureau Toranomon 2-17-16 Toranomon, Minato-ku
Tokyo 105-0001 – JAPAN
T: +81 (3) 3539.1676
msato@georgia.org
Korea
Mr. Peter A. Underwood
Peter Underwood serves as the Managing Director of Georgia’s Korea office. He is focused on attracting Korean investment and tourism into Georgia as well as promoting Georgia exports to Korea. Established in 1985, the Korea Office has assisted Korean investors such as Kia Motors, SKC, LG Chem, and a host of small and mid-sized companies to establish operations in Georgia.
Peter is a senior partner in IRC Limited, a business development consultancy that specializes in supporting Western companies to be successful in Korea. Prior to joining IRC, Peter implemented executive language development programs at major companies first in Korea and later in Japan.
Peter holds a BA in International Affairs and History from Lewis & Clark College and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. He is fluent in English and Korean.
Peter Underwood
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Korea
Hyochang-Dong 5-23, Yongsan-Ku
Seoul 140-896 – KOREA
T: +82 (2) 701.3222
punderwood@georgia.org
Additional contact:
Ms. Hee-jung Shin
Hee-jung Shin joined the State of Georgia Korea Office in June of 2006 as a Project Manager working to recruit Korean investors. In addition Ms. Shin maintains the Korea Office’s extensive network of existing investors in Georgia and governmental organizations in Korea.
Previously Ms. Shin worked in sales at a trade company specializing in jewelry. While there, she worked with buyers in the UAE, England, Japan and Hong Kong. She also spent time working as a Manager at an employment services company solving cross-cultural conflicts between Thai trainees and Korean managers.
Ms. Shin graduated from Williams Business College in Australia with a diploma in Travel and Tourism. She speaks Korean and English.
Hee-jung Shin
Project Manager
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Korea
Hyochang-Dong 5-23, Yongsan-Ku
Seoul 140-896 – KOREA
T+82 (2) 702. 6093
hshin@georgia.org
Mexico
Mr. Fernando Hanhausen
Fernando Hanhausen is Georgia’s Managing Director in Mexico, seeking trade opportunities between Georgia and Mexico companies and advancing the state as a desirable destination for tourism and foreign direct investment.
Fernando is a highly qualified business development consultant with over 20 years of experience in economic and financial analysis of project opportunities and strategic marketing. He is also Managing Director of a leading Mexico City based consulting firm, where he has overseen hundreds of market research studies.
In addition to his consulting practice, Fernando has been a professor of Economics at the Business School of the Anahuac University and has served as a board member for various corporations. His background includes advising international organizations and companies on Mexican economic and business trends to develop effective market penetration, and he has overseen the production of hundreds of market research studies. His work has led to the establishment of many joint ventures between Mexican and foreign businesses as well as a long list of distribution agreements and specific project awards for his clients. A recognized expert on U.S.-Mexico trade issues, Fernando has been a featured speaker at conferences in Mexico and abroad, and has contributed articles on expanding U.S. business in Mexico for publications specialized in export promotion.
Fernando holds a degree in economics from the School of Economics at Anahuac University in Mexico City. He is a native of Mexico and fluent in Spanish and English.
Fernando Hanhausen
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – Mexico
Jorge Eliot No. 12-701, Polanco
México D.F. 11560 – MEXICO
T: +52 (55) 5280.1521
fhanhausen@georgia.org
U.K. & Ireland
Mr. Mike Harling
Mike Harling joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development team in 2002 as Managing Director of the state’s United Kingdom and Ireland Office. He has over 25 years experience in international business and has lived and worked in a number of countries in Europe.
Mike’s background includes eighteen years of investment promotion experience and ten years in international sales, marketing and trade promotion roles within the automotive, aerospace, and plastics sectors. This latter experience included five years managing a German engineering business in the automotive sector.
Mike also spent eight years at Locate in Kent, the investment promotion agency for the County of Kent, which at the time was the largest and most influential agency in its field in southern England. He was in charge of worldwide foreign direct investment at the agency, including the management of five international offices.
Mike has studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Tours in western France. He holds a BSc Joint Honours degree from the University of Salford, England. He has also founded a consulting firm that assists regional and national authorities and investment promotion agencies in developing their international investment promotion and trade programs, as well as advising companies on their international location strategies. Mike is fluent in English, French and German.
Mike Harling
Managing Director
Georgia Department of Economic Development – United Kingdom & Ireland
The Barn, Puckshipton House
Beechingstoke, Wiltshire, SN9 6HG – ENGLAND
T: +44 (0) 1672.851.619
mharling@georgia.org