Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle returned from leading a business and diplomatic mission to Brazil that expanded the state of Georgia’s business relationship with the South American country...
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle returned from leading a business and diplomatic mission to Brazil that expanded the state of Georgia’s business relationship with the South American country. The delegation, which included several members of Georgia’s business community, focused on researching Brazil’s ethanol industry to discover potential synergies with Georgia’s burgeoning alternative fuels industry.
"Hartsfield-Jackson airport, the Georgia ports, and the presence of so many corporate headquarters make Georgia an ideal gateway for the world economy to connect to America. The massive, emerging economies of such nations as Brazil, Russia, India and China represent the world markets of the future. As we seek to bring high-paying jobs to Georgia, engaging the government and business structures of nations like Brazil represents a critical challenge. This is where growth will take place, and Georgia cannot afford to be left behind.
"With oil prices at a historic high, I spent a significant amount of time learning more about Brazil’s biofuel industry and the progress they made to become energy independent. Here in Georgia, we are moving rapidly toward converting pine tree parts into auto fuel and are home to the nation’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. I met with leaders of the biofuel industry in Brazil and urged them to make Georgia a significant part of their future growth and potential. Based upon the interaction and response I received from the business meetings that were held during the mission, I consider this trip a resounding success,” said Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.
The delegation conducted business calls in Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janiero as the Lieutenant Governor also spearheaded business connections to Brazilian companies currently doing business in Georgia and companies who have a potential interest in the state. In addition, Lieutenant Governor Cagle met with a number of diplomatic officials, including U.S. Ambassador Clifford Sobel, Vice Minister of Brazil Ivan Ramlaho and members of the Senate.
The Lieutenant Governor’s mission expands Georgia’s dynamic relationship with its 11th-largest trade partner, and follows on the heels of two 2007 missions led by the Georgia Department of Economic Development that explored the nation’s production and distribution systems for ethanol, particularly cellulosic ethanol.
Brazil has become energy independent because of its extensive production and use of ethanol as fuel for vehicles as well as its burgeoning production of petroleum. Brazil also recently discovered one of the world’s largest oil fields. Cagle met with top officials of several Brazilian fuel industries to learn more about Brazil’s energy industry and share Georgia’s significant progress in the alternative fuel sector.
Following a mission to Brazil by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2004, Brazil announced the opening of a new consulate general in Atlanta, Georgia, that will serve most of the U.S. Southeastern states. Other state delegations that have traveled to Brazil include one led by then-Governor Zell Miller to Sao Paulo in July 1997. Senior officials at the Georgia Department of Economic Development led official state missions to Brazil in 2005 and 2006, partially in connection with an initiative to raise awareness of Georgia’s position as the premier gateway to the Southeast.
Events exploring other opportunities in commerce between Georgia and Brazil have included the “Visit-USA” tourism conference in San Paulo and Rio de Janiero, which the Department of Economic Development attended, exhibited and sponsored in 2006, 2007 and 2008, to promote Georgia’s tourism assets to the Brazilian travel industry. In addition, the state of Georgia received business- and tourism-related delegations from Brazil in January and September of 2007.
The State of Georgia opened a trade office in Brazil in 1994. In September 2005, the office began focusing on Georgia’s broader economic development interests as well, including investment, tourism and film. The office is located in Sao Paulo and is managed by Fabio Yukio Yamada.
Brazil ranked 11th among Georgia’s export destinations in 2007, with exports totaling nearly $495 million, a 15 percent increase from the previous year. Top products exported from Georgia to Brazil include chemicals, paper and non-electrical machinery, and transportation equipment. Also in 2007, Georgia imported $915.5 million from Brazil through the Savannah Customs District, a 18.5 percent increase from 2006.
Several Georgia companies including AGCO Corp., Coca-Cola, Equifax, Newell Rubbermaid and Novelis have operations in Brazil. Brazilian companies including Artefacto, Bematech Corp., Florense US Design, Gerdau SA, Houston American Cement and WEG Electric Motors Corp. operate facilities in Georgia. Delta Air Lines offers non-stop daily service between Atlanta and both Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
For more information about the trip, including updates from Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, please click on the following website: http://www.StateofGeorgiaMissions.com.