Georgia Top Business Partner for China, Says Consul
by
Maggie Lee
Georgia Online News Service
ATLANTA -- Chinese Consul Qiao Hong's office is in Houston, but she visits Georgia more than any of the other states in her territory.
It's for "the significant big events here" put on by chambers of commerce, the Chinese community and the State Department, among others, she says.
She visited the Capitol on Tuesday as part of China Day, deemed such by a Senate resolution.
On the House side, Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock), the sole member of the Georgia-China Caucus, planned to recognize Qiao from the floor, but bad weather in Florida kept her from being at the Capitol.
Rep. Calvin Hill (R-Canton) stepped in.
"China is one of our top destinations for Georgia exports, part of the tremendous cultural, economic and educational cooperation with the country," he said.
He cited the exhibit of the ancient Terracotta Warriors of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, at Atlanta's High Museum as an example. It's the only U.S. stop for the collection.
The bilateral trade between the state and the country has reached some $2 billion annually, making Georgia the No. 2 exporter to China among the 50 states. And the economic downturn isn't shrinking that figure, says Qiao.
And "those numbers don't pick up services," adds John Ray, president of Heritage Capital Advisors and board member of the Georgia China Alliance, a group that promotes trade between the two places.
China offices for Atlanta law firms such as Troutman Sanders and King & Spalding are part of that trend, as are Delta's direct flights to Shanghai four times per week.
"Georgia is attractive for [Chinese] foreign direct investment," says Qiao.
Visiting the Capitol with her were representatives from at least two Chinese companies, Ningbo Electric and China Great Wall Corp. The first makes industrial electric equipment; the second is an aerospace firm.
Georgia is already home to a handful of foreign direct investments by Chinese companies. The largest is a Sany Heavy Industry assembly plant representing a $30 million investment over five years for the heavy construction equipment manufacturer. When it goes online in 2010, it is expected to employ 200 people.
Another 200 people could get jobs at Kingwasong LLC in Newnan making vinegar, soy sauce and other fermented food products once the facility is built.
Atlanta boosters from the Chamber of Commerce to Mayor Shirley Franklin's office also want a Chinese consulate in the city. When will it happen?
"That's my question!" Qiao says with a grin. "We have to push the [U.S.] federal government," which has the final say on consulates.
Other sources say it's not a good prospect right now because there are already more Chinese consulates in the United States than vice-versa. Without reciprocity, a Chinese consulate in Atlanta may be a hard sell in Washington.
Maggie Lee specializes in quality of life topics, Atlanta's international communities and general reporting. She covers Georgia economic development and the Chinese community as a stringer for China Daily and chronicles life in Georgia's most diverse county for the DeKalb Champion. [full bio]
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