Governor Perdue to Lead State Delegation Promoting Job Creation in Georgia

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue will leave tomorrow leading a Georgia business delegation on a weeklong trip to promote Japanese and Korean business development and trade in Georgia. The delegation will attend the 27th Annual Southeast U.S.-Japan Joint Meeting (SEUS-Japan) in Osaka, Japan and the 17th Annual Southeast U.S.-Korea Joint Conference (SEUS-Korea) in Seoul, South Korea on October 26-28 and October 30-31, respectively. Georgia will host the 28th Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S.-Japan Association in 2004 in Atlanta.

"Japanese and Korean companies have created nearly 30,000 jobs in our state, and these meetings will provide the opportunity to generate even more jobs for Georgians," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "I am looking forward to building stronger relationships with these two countries and sharing the benefits of doing business in Georgia."

Georgia leads the southeast in Japanese investment and is ranked fourth in the country with $4.3 billion. Most recently, Suzuki Motor Corp inaugurated manufacturing all-terrain vehicles at its new plant in Rome, GA; Toyota Industries announced its plans to construct a $60 million facility to manufacture automotive components in Jackson County, GA; Fuji Vegetable Oil, Inc. announced it is undergoing a $32 million expansion at its manufacturing facility in Savannah; and Yamaha completed a $50 million, 400 job expansion of its facility in Newnan expanding its payroll at the site to more than 1,400.

While attending the SEUS Korea Conference, Governor Perdue will meet with Korean government and business leaders, including representatives from leading automotive, transportation and communications companies. Events scheduled include seminars on trade and investment opportunities, and panel discussions focused on economic, commercial and technical issues.

Korea has been a growing source of business investment for Georgia in recent years. SKC America, a manufacturer of polyester film, continues to consider additional growth for its North American headquarters in Covington, GA, which represents a $400 million investment and 300 jobs. Additionally, KOS America, Inc. opened a new $8 million steel wire manufacturing facility in Oakwood, GA, and United Synthetic Industries expanded production and jobs at its new polyester fiber plant in LaFayette, GA.

"Korea has become an important business partner for Georgia," said Governor Perdue. "This annual meeting is an opportunity for us to strengthen our existing ties and to pitch Korean business leaders on all the reasons that Georgia is such a great place to do business."

The SEUS-Japan Association, organized in 1975, and the SEUS-Korea Association, organized in 1985, were created to foster the development of trade and industry, and promote diplomatic relations between the Southeastern United States and Japan and Korea in the areas of international trade, industry, technology, culture and commerce.