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Will also visit
Hong Kong while in Asia
9/10/10 Governor Sonny
Perdue is joining Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company as it
continues its participation in the Expo 2010
Shanghai next week in
China. Coca-Cola has already
welcomed over 500,000 visitors to its pavilion in
Shanghai
during the Expo. China
is a key market both for Coca-Cola and the state of
Georgia.
“China is
the world’s fastest growing consumer market, which presents
great opportunities for
Georgia business, big and
small,” said Governor Perdue. “Coca-Cola is the most respected
brand in the world, and I am happy to join them as they continue
to represent our state and play a major role in our economy.”
“We are honored to join Governor Perdue on this economic
development mission. We share his deep appreciation of the
importance of the U.S./China relationship to business.
Georgia
is our home, the U.S.
is our largest market globally and
China
is our second largest international market,” said Clyde Tuggle,
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications, The
Coca-Cola Company. “Coca-Cola has a long view on
China. Since 1979 we have
invested more than $2 billion (U.S.),
and in 2009 we committed to invest a further $2 billion (U.S.)
over the following three years. By the end of the year we will
be operating 39 plants in
China
– two of them opened this year.”
After spending two days in Shanghai
with Coca-Cola at the Expo, Governor Perdue will also visit
Hong Kong
for ports-related meetings with the Georgia Ports Authority. The
Governor first visited China
in 2008, the same year the Georgia
economic development office opened in
Beijing.
The Beijing
Georgia
Business
Advisory
Center gives
Georgia a platform to introduce
investment, trade and tourism opportunities to Chinese
companies, tour operators and citizens.
In the last three years, seven Chinese companies have
announced projects in
Georgia. An average of two
Chinese delegations visit
Georgia every month.
China is
Georgia’s second biggest trade
partner with $1.7 billion in exports last year. The
Georgia-China trading relationship involves a diverse range of
products. Among U.S.
states, Georgia
ranks first among states in its exports of meat (poultry);
kaolin and textile floor coverings to
China. Other top exports to
China
include paper and paperboard; aircraft and spacecraft; glass and
glassware; wood pulp and organic chemicals.
Georgia
imports from China
through the Savannah Customs District totaled $14.6 billion in
2009, which account for nearly 28 percent of total
Georgia imports.
Georgia’s top imports from
China
include nuclear reactors and boilers; electrical machinery and
equipment; toys, games and sports equipment; furniture and
footwear.
According to the Georgia Ports Authority, in 2008,
China
alone accounted for 40 percent of
Georgia’s trade. The
Port of Savannah,
the fourth largest container port in the
United States, is one of three
key entry points in the Asia-United States shipping lanes.
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