GEORGIA, USA WHERE THE WORLD DOES BUSINESS

U.S.-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum | December 2011

PERCEPTION OF GEORGIA

STATE OF OPPORTUNITIES

STRATEGIC LOCATION

GEORGIA NUMBERS

USA

Southeast USA

Georgia

Area Population GDP per Capita

9,826,675 km2

312,697,000

$ 47,482

1,233,892 km2

78,320,977

$ 43,268

153,909 km2

9,687,653

$ 41,711

LEADING BUSINESS RANKINGS #1 entrepreneurial activities (Kauffman Foundation)

#1 labor/workforce development (Area Development)

#2 best business climate (Site Selection Magazine)

#2 workforce training (Business Facilities)

#2 infrastructure (Area Development)

#2 site selection location (Area Development)

#2 transportation (CNBC)

#4 best state for business (CNBC)

#4 workforce (CNBC)

#4 most Fortune 500 companies in a state (Fortune)

14 Fortune 500 & 32 Fortune 1000 headquartered companies in Georgia

Source: Fortune Magazine

HEADQUARTERED COMPANIES

GEORGIA: GLOBAL ACCESS

Heart of Southeast 4th fastest-growing U.S.

State Fastest growing U.S. City:

metro Atlanta Diverse economy Great business assets Leading Infrastructure Telecommunications

network

DYNAMIC & DIVERSE ECONOMY

Traditional Industries Agribusiness (5 P’s: Peach, Poultry, Pine,

Peanuts, Pecans)

Textile mill products (Worldwide leader in carpet and rug production)

Transportation equipment (Lockheed Martin and Gulfstream)

Non-electrical machinery Defense Services

655,000 businesses

STRATEGIC INDUSTRIES

Aerospace & Automotive

Communications & IT Agribusiness Biosciences Energy Transportation &

Logistics Headquarters

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

Logistics

Market Access

Workforce

Business, tax & regulatory environment

Low operating costs

World-class university system with over 270,000 students o 4th largest university system in the USA

o Excellent technical colleges

Best U.S. training Program “Quick Start”

Quality of Life

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

70 countries represented in Georgia: o 25 Career Consulates (with Trade Missions) and 52 Honorary

Consulates

43 Bilateral chambers of commerce Strong local chamber of commerce network International business presence:

o More than 3,000 international companies representing 50 countries call Georgia home, and employ more than 170,000 Georgians.

International Concierge

GEORGIA TRADE WITH SAUDI ARABIA (2010) National leader in the export of woodpulp; textile floor coverings; kaolin; and paper to Saudi Arabia.

Exports: $420.5 million (up 15% over 2009) Imports: $31.3 million

National Ranking with Saudi Arabia: 7th in exports and 13th in imports.

Leading exports: woodpulp, meat, aircraft & spacecraft, machinery, paper and non-railway vehicles.

Leading imports: yarns, textile floor coverings, aluminum, and machinery.

Gretchen Corbin, Deputy Commissioner, Global Commerce

Georgia Department of Economic Development 75 Fifth Street NW, Suite 1200 Atlanta, Georgia 30308 T: 001-404-962-4000 E: GCorbin@georgia.org

THANK YOU FOR KEEPING GEORGIA ON YOUR MIND!