This week, thanks to a joint resolution sponsored by Sen. Judson
Hill and Rep. Charlice Byrd, we will be celebrating “China Day” at
the State Capitol. Georgia’s relationship with China has come a
long way very quickly.About four years ago, a State Senate
Committee led by Sen. Sam Zamarripa conducted research on Georgia’s
relationship with China to determine how our ties could be
enhanced. Since this study was done, Georgia’s Chinese connections
have flourished, thanks to the efforts of both private and public
sector individuals too numerous to name. While celebrating “China
Day” again this year, we Georgians are really in the midst of
celebrating “The China Decade”.
In 2001, China trailed the Netherlands and Brazil as Georgia’s
eighth largest trading partner. According to the latest available
data, Georgia’s exports to China have mushroomed to $1.1 billion, a
23% compound annual growth. China is now Georgia’s third largest
export market, ahead of the United Kingdom, Japan, or Germany.
Georgia is a Southeastern leader in attracting Chinese business;
we have several different Chinese companies in various stages of
constructing facilities here. Imports from China are the principal
reason Savannah is America’s fastest growing port.
Despite this progress, our relationship with China still has
remarkable unrealized potential. We must press our federal
officials to clear the way for China to locate its next U.S.
consulate in Atlanta. As has been the case with Houston, a Chinese
consulate in Georgia would plant our state in the sights of many
more Chinese businesses contemplating a U.S. location than would
otherwise be the case.
With disposable income in China rising quickly, our state should
commit funds which promote Georgia to Chinese tourists looking at
potential U.S. destinations. Those tourists can’t get here,
however, without visas granted by the U.S. government.
Consequently, we must press our Washington representatives to
overhaul and streamline the visa approval process for both tourists
and businesspeople.
While the growth in our state’s relationship with China has been
dramatic and profitable, we have much more work ahead of us to fully
realize the potential of our “China Decade”.
John Ray is the General Partner of Heritage China Partners and
Chairman of the Georgia-China Alliance.
[Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, February 22,
2008]
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