ATLANTA -- A Georgia delegation led by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin completed a successful eight-day mission to Asia that included visits with business leaders and senior government officials in Japan and Korea from April 22-29.

“We had a very productive trip to Asia, including being warmly received by the mayors of Fukuoka, Japan; and Daegu, Korea – as well as sister city officials in Fukuoka and Daegu,” said Mayor Franklin. “The purpose of the trip was to explore business opportunities and promote Atlanta as a global business center, along with paying ‘thank you’ visits to several companies that are already doing business in Atlanta, such as Sekisui SPR Americas, Inc.; Panasonic and SKC.”

“The economic development mission to Asia was an opportunity to network with a number of Asian companies that expressed interest in learning more about the opportunities to invest and locate in Georgia and Atlanta,” said Hans Gant, senior vice president of economic development for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. “We would like to see real job growth come out of a trip like this. Building relationships and networking is what will continue to help metro Atlanta increase international presence both here in Atlanta and across the world.”

The delegation also learned about the culture and people of Japan and Korea, visiting the 700-foot high Fukuoka Communications Tower, Fukuoka Atlanta Park at Island City and meeting Miss Japan Universe.

Objectives of the Asia mission included:

• leveraging Atlanta Sister City connections for economic development
• visiting with Asian companies that already have a presence in metro Atlanta
• meeting with prospects in Asia that could possibly expand to metro Atlanta
• promoting metro Atlanta as a global business center

The following sent delegates on the trip to Asia: City of Atlanta; Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; Delta Air Lines; Jones Day; Bentley Investments, Inc.; Georgia Power Company; Fayette County Development Authority; Han Capital Partners,LLC; SunTrust Bank; Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu; Sekisui SPR Americas, Inc.; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; Reece & Associates; Panasonic Automotive Systems; Fukuoka Sister City Committee; MHR International, Inc.; Georgia Department of Economic Development; Georgia Marble; China Professional Tours; Galaxy Partners, Inc.; Korean-Southeast U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Sachi Koto Communications, Inc.; Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce; Haskell Slaughter & Young LLC;

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The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce – with our 4,000 member companies that collectively employ more than 700,000 workers – is a catalyst for a vibrant metro region. Over the last 140 years, the Chamber has been bringing the region’s leaders together to tackle the issues that matter most to the business community: quality jobs and quality of life.

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