Earlier this year, Atlanta was ranked the 35th most “globally engaged” city, defined as a city that generates and keeps top talent, businesses, ideas and capital. As Mayor Kasim Reed said, this was proof that we’ve made strides, but we could be doing even more to attract investment, jobs and growth. The more we move up that list, the more prosperity we will draw to our area.
Surpassing U.S. cities like New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago and foreign ones like London, Dubai and Buenos Aires in overall economic growth is well within Atlanta’s reach. We have the ingredients to elevate our standing. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is second to none. Our already bustling ports in Savannah and Brunswick show steadily increasing volume. And we have more than 100 consulates, trade offices and bi-national chambers of commerce. Focused leveraging of these assets and organizations will increase global engagement and place Atlanta near the top of the list of best places to do business.
As a participant in the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone program, the Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone is a meaningful part of the work to bolster Atlanta’s standings. Foreign-Trade Zone activity is at an all-time high not only in the Atlanta region, but throughout the state. By providing incentives that lower operating costs and increase international trade, the Foreign-Trade Zone program attracts Georgia companies involved in manufacturing, warehouse operations and distribution. Our member companies embrace global engagement because they know it works.
The trade zone program program in Georgia revolves around our state’s international ports of entry. It is made up of almost 70 sites for companies including Chico’s, Yamaha, DHL Global Forwarding, Ricoh Electronics, Makita and Mizuno.
Our state’s Foreign-Trade Zone activity is growing at an impressive rate; more than $10 billion in merchandise moved through Georgia’s sites during 2013, an increase of almost 40 percent over 2012. Since 2011, employment has grown by more than 60 percent, to 7,700. Foreign-Trade Zone exports have tripled over the past five years. Georgia ranks within the top 15 states for such export activity.
As trade zone global engagement continues to grow at the local and state level, we’re being recognized far beyond state borders, further elevating the visibility of Atlanta and Georgia. We share our story nationally and internationally as a board member of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones and the recently created World Free Zones Organization.
While working on Foreign-Trade Zone policy at the national level is crucial to our success, our involvement in World Free Zones as one of its founding board members is a unique privilege. As we are one of only two American organizations to sit on the 13-member board, the potential exposure for Atlanta and Georgia is significant.
Created earlier this year in Geneva, Switzerland, and headquartered in Dubai, the new global association will facilitate the exchange of experience, knowledge and best practices among its members and the communities they serve. This is a tremendous opportunity for sharing our story with global professionals dedicated to positive economic and social development through international trade.
I believe these efforts will pay off for the local economy through increased investment, jobs and growth. And I believe the companies and organizations participating in the Foreign-Trade Zone program in Georgia will help fuel the engine that moves Atlanta to the top of the list.
Julie Brown is CEO of Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone.
