Georgia Delegation to Attend SEUS/Japan Annual Meeting

ATLANTA, October 18, 2010 — The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) will lead a state delegation from Georgia to the 34th  Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan and the Japan-U.S. Southeast Associations (SEUS/Japan), held this week in Nashville, Tennessee.  GDEcD Commissioner Heidi Green will deliver opening remarks during this meeting, joining with leadership from seven other southeastern states, Japanese dignitaries and global business leaders for this annual meeting that celebrates shared partnerships with Japan. 'Georgia is able to successfully compete in the global marketplace as a result of the fruitful relationships we share with Japan and other countries around the world,' said Heidi Green.  'The annual SEUS/Japan meeting creates opportunities for Georgia to reconnect and deepen our longstanding partnership with Japan, and share with the world the broad range of opportunities that exist in our state.' The SEUS/Japan Association was established in 1976 to promote trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and U.S. member states that include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.  This annual meeting typically attracts upwards of 500 government officials and top business leaders.  The theme of this year's meeting is 'In Harmony with Tradition and Innovation,' and includes sessions focused on renewable energy, global economic trends, and a session on transportation and logistics led by Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics executive director Page Siplon. In 2009 Georgia ranked 13th among U.S. states exporting to Japan, which was the fifth-largest export destination from the state.  Georgia led among states in exports to Japan of wood pulp and recovered paper and paperboard products; salt, sulfur, earth & stone; turbo-jets, turbo-propellers, and other gas turbines; as well as carpets and other textile floor coverings—all totaling just more than one billion dollars worth of goods to Japan in 2009. Georgia ranked 11th in 2009 among port authorities receiving Japanese imports, making Japan the fourth-largest importer into the Port Authority of Savannah. Primary imports included nuclear reactors and boilers, sound recorders and reproducers, vehicles, other than railway or tramway, as well as organic chemicals. Nearly $2.4 billion in goods were imported in 2009 from Japan through the Port Authority of Savannah. With more than 400 Japanese companies doing business in Georgia, the country ranks first in terms of cumulative investment in Georgia, totaling more than $5.9 billion as of November 2008.  Georgia has been fully engaged with the Japanese market since 1973, when the Georgia Department of Economic Development established its international office in Tokyo, which remains Georgia's oldest international office.  This office promotes Georgia trade, investment, and tourism opportunities in Japan. The Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S./Japan and the Japan-U.S. Southeast Associations is held on a rotational basis in Japan and the southeastern U.S. 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.