Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Leads Trade Missions To Israel And Dubai

ATLANTA, November 15, 2011 — Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), is leading trade missions to international shows in Israel and Dubai Nov. 13 – 17. Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and a number of Georgia companies and other partners are also participating in the Dubai Airshow and in WATEC Israel 2011, a major conference focusing on renewable energy and the environment.  A third conference, Medica 2011, in Dusseldorf, Germany Nov. 16 – 19, is likewise attracting Georgia companies who seek trade opportunities. 'Shows like these are exceptional opportunities for our Georgia companies to introduce themselves to potential partners and grow their businesses through international trade, which leads to twice as much job creation as domestic trade,' said Commissioner Cummiskey. 'GDEcD's European and Israeli offices and our trade managers provide great value at these events, facilitating introductions to key decision-makers, assisting with lead follow-up and providing market intelligence.' The Commissioner joins a Georgia delegation led by GDEcD at the Dubai Airshow 2011, where for the third time the state will pursue trade and investment opportunities. Global Aviation Co. and Dominate RFID of Norcross, Thrush Aircraft of Albany, and RCF Technologies of Vidalia are among the Georgia companies participating in the air show, which runs Nov. 13 – 17. Carroll Tomorrow, an economic development group from Carroll County, is also represented. The Dubai Air Show is the largest air show in the world's fastest-growing region, and this is the second time Georgia has brought companies to the show.  Aerospace is a strategic industry for Georgia, with more than $4 billion in exports in 2010, and it has been an important part of the state's economy for more than a century. Georgia ranks eighth in the U.S. for aviation employment, with more than 80,000 employees in 500-plus operations. From Dubai, the Commissioner and Mr. Clark go to Tel Aviv Nov. 15 – 17 for WATEC Israel 2011, where they will join members of GDEcD's Trade Division, representatives of the Israel Chamber of Commerce in the Southeast and Georgia Power, and several Georgia technology companies seeking to grow their business in water, renewable energy and the environment. While in Israel, Commissioner Cummiskey will address members of the Israel Forum of the Supply Chain, presenting Georgia's advantages as a logistics hub to Israeli companies, and Mr. Clark will participate in panel on water challenges and best practices in North America. Israel is a well-known hub for research and development, and offers a strategic business gateway to global markets for Georgia companies.  Since the U.S. and Israel signed a free trade agreement in 1985, Georgia exports have increased by 77 percent. MEDICA 2011 will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany on Nov. 16 – 19 and is considered the top health care trade show in the world due to the caliber of attending international health care professionals and executives in the fields of medical technology, laboratory equipment, diagnostics, physiotherapy, medical disposables and healthcare information technologies. This is the sixth consecutive year that Georgia will have a booth or pavilion at MEDICA.  Over the years, Georgia companies have signed multiple distributor agreements at the show, making dozens of sales totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars and completing 26 deals and sales totaling more than $500,000 in the past three years. Georgia companies participating in this year's MEDICA 2011 trade mission are Facet Technologies, LLC, Kennesaw;  Myelotec, Inc., Roswell; North American Heart Institute, Marietta;  Prizm Medical, Oakwood; Red Bag Solutions, Atlanta; Advance Medical Designs, Marietta; Guided Therapeutics, Norcross; Sanuwave, Alpharetta; Tava Surgical, Savannah; Alleset Healthcare and Global Resources International, Flowery Branch. Representatives from the Metro Atlanta Chamber will also attend. Upcoming trade missions led by GDEcD's Trade Division include: • Expo Estadio, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov. 22-24, 2011 • Domotex, Hannover, Germany, Jan. 14-17, 2012 • GLOBE 2012 Conference & Trade Fair, Vancouver, Canada, March 14-16, 2012 • Farnborough International Airshow  Trade Exibition, United Kingdom, July 9-12, 2012 • Congreso Internacional Expomin 2012, Santiago, Chile,  April 9-13, 2012 For information regarding Georgia's trade services and programs, call 404-962-4122. The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm. The agency attracts new business, encourages the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, and locates new markets for Georgia products. It also markets Georgia to tourists and promotes the state as a destination for arts events and location for film, music and digital entertainment projects. For more information, visit www.Georgia.org.