New Consulate General of Peru celebrates opening in Atlanta

ATLANTA, February 27, 2006 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Hemisphere, Inc., and the Consulate General of Peru in Atlanta will celebrate the official opening of the new Consulate General of Peru in Atlanta on Tuesday, February 28.
'We are pleased that Ambassador Eduardo Ferrero, during his visit to the state last February, accepted the Governor's invitation to open a new consulate in Atlanta,' said GDEcD Commissioner Craig Lesser. 'Its opening continues to highlight Georgia's significance in international trade and as a destination for business and tourism. As a member of the U.S.-Andean Free Trade Agreement (ANDEAN), Peru is very important to furthering Georgia's initiative in strengthening and promoting new business and cultural opportunities.'

A ceremony marking the consulate's official opening will be held on Tuesday, February 28 at 4360 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Headed by Consul General Jorge Puente Luna, the new consulate will assist the Peruvian community living in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. In addition to issuing visas and passports and performing other consular services, the new consulate general will promote trade, investment, tourism, academic and cultural relationships within Peru and the States of its jurisdiction.

The Peruvian government's decision to open a consulate general here was influenced by economic and trade relations between Georgia and Peru, the strong support of Governor Perdue's administration and the region's growing Peruvian community. An estimated 40,000 Peruvians live in the Southeast.

'The opening of this Consulate General demonstrates the interest of the Peruvian government in serving the community living abroad as well as promoting Peru's image as a country of trade and tourism opportunities and finally, raising awareness of Georgia's position as the premier trade gateway,' said Consul General Puente Luna. 'With the upcoming presidential elections in Peru on April 9, the new Consulate will be a vital resource for Peruvian nationals living in the Southeast to be eligible to vote. Since last October, the consulate staff has been diligently touring the Southeast registering voters. Already we have registered more than 1,500 of our nationals and we expect that number to increase sizably with the opening.'

The opening of the new Consulate General of Peru in Atlanta continues Georgia's outreach to the countries of Central and South America, supporting its effort to raise the profile of Georgia's position as the primary gateway to access the U.S. domestic market, and as a possible home of the Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), an initiative directed by Hemisphere, Inc., and chaired by Governor Sonny Perdue.

Peru was one of three Latin American countries to open or signal its intention to establish an official presence in Georgia last year. Its ceremonial opening follows that of Guatemala, which officially opened its consulate last month.

'Peru will be of significant importance to Georgia for trade and investment with the recent passage of the free trade agreement between the U.S. and Peru, which was ratified in December 2005," said José Ignacio González, executive director of Hemisphere, Inc.

Georgia exported a total of $49.8 million to Peru in 2005. Top exports to Peru include chemicals, paper, computer and electronic products, food and kindred products, and textile products. Delta Air Lines provides daily non-stop service between Atlanta and Lima.

Hemisphere, Inc. is a public-private partnership spearheading Georgia's efforts to position the state as the premier gateway for trade and investment between the countries of the Western Hemisphere. The organization is also leading the effort to win the Secretariat of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas for Georgia. The organization is chaired by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and directed by a Board including Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Craig Lesser and Former Equifax Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Chapman. For more information, visit www.atlantagateway.org.

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, video and music projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development. For more information, visit www.georgia.org.