The State of Georgia has become a center of international business, with Atlanta and Savannah serving as primary global gateways for people and products through air, sea, and rail. Beyond the business-friendly assets that make Georgia a successful state to do business, decades of strategic decisions by state leaders are delivering generational investments that continue to keep Georgia at the forefront of global trends and stretching into new markets – including maintaining direct lines of communication between them.
Fifty years ago, state leadership under then-Governor Jimmy Carter began to establish Georgia’s physical presence abroad, kickstarting the state’s trajectory to becoming a global hub for business and innovation.
“The fact that Georgia has had international representation for over 50 years has helped give our economy a remarkable resiliency,” said Coryn Marsik, Director of International Investment at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “These offices work to recruit diverse investments, which create jobs for Georgians, and help our companies reach new global markets.”
Enduring Ties with Japan
When first established in 1973, the State of Georgia’s office in Tokyo provided direct access to multiple rapidly developing markets in east Asia. Seeing this strategy bear fruit, Georgia further strengthened its investments into connectivity, expanding its international presence over the next few decades to include new offices dedicated to serving individual countries.
As home to the first international office, Georgia’s history with Japan is a unique mix of deep business and cultural connections. Japanese companies continue to be the top international employer in Georgia to this day. These ties are supported by an active community of Japan-Georgia organizations, such as the Japan-America Society of Georgia and the Japan External Trade Organization, and Georgia’s role as a charter member in the Southeast…
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