The goal of the president’s National Export Initiative, which was formally announced on Feb. 4, is to double the value of U.S. exports from $1 trillion to $2 trillion and create 2 million jobs in five years.  Under the present international economic conditions, the achievement of the president’s goal is a national challenge to the economic ingenuity of business and labor, government and academia.  Georgia is the 13th in export value rank among the states with an estimated $30.5 billion of exports in 2009 and 200,000 export jobs.  According to the Bureau of Census, 8,978 Georgia companies exported in 2007 and 7,750 of these are small and medium size (under 500 employees).  Doubling the value of exports and the number of export jobs, Georgia must increase the number of export companies as well as the export value in terms of global markets and market shares.

Commerce Secretary Gary F. Locke indicated that the president intends to reduce export restrictions on sensitive technologies, pursue free trade agreements, provide tax incentives and assist the export expansion of companies with marketing and financing assistance. In previous administrations, tax incentives were not found to be significant to the export expansion of companies, but marketing and financing assistance were found to be important.

Georgia was the first to use electronic export trade leads to companies and provide international marketing research by its universities. The U.S. Export Assistance Center, a partnership of the U.S. Commerce Department with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, assists Georgia companies in finding new global markets and customers with the expertise of commercial officers in U.S. embassies abroad and the Georgia offices in ten major countries.  (Coordinates of the US Export Assistance Center in Atlanta: 404-897-6080, www.export.gov/cs).

At the University of Georgia, the launching of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the 1970’s with its export focus became the model for the universities in most states.  SBDC’s program, Georgia Exports, gives practical export training to companies new to export.  Georgia Tech’s CIBER (Center for International Business, Education and Research) published country market studies, gives export seminars and training workshops. Georgia State University’s Institute of International Business was the first to receive the President’s E Award for Export Assistance and the E Award for Export Service. All universities provide graduate students for export interns and for writing export studies.  The World Trade Center Atlanta with its network of 330 WTCs in 90 countries and 500,000 companies provides global contacts and a place to do business.

In export surveys we have learned that the decision to export is made by top company executives, who are influenced mostly by their own peers.  A good example is the Global Commerce Council established at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce in 2007.  The membership of  the council, made up mostly of executives of Georgia and international companies, has assisted 42 companies in exporting and were influential in the creation of about 2000 jobs.

There are 2,400 international companies from 52 countries in Georgia, which provide employment for 177,000. These companies have international business experience and contacts, which are valuable in export advice and contacts. The same is true for Georgia companies with international business operations like the Coca-Cola Co., United Parcel Service Inc., CNN, AGCO Corp., Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Aflac Inc., to name a few.  Executives of such companies can serve as honorary trade representatives of their states abroad.

Metro Atlanta is fortunate to have the number one international airport and a good rail transport system, which combined with the ports of Savannah and Brunswick provide a great intermodal transport system for exports.    

Atlanta is the home of 65 foreign consulates with 25 trade offices and 42 bi-national chambers of commerce, which are valuable in international business. Atlanta also has sister city relationships with 40 cities representing 25 countries.  In January, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed stated at the Atlanta Press Club that Atlanta can be an export model as an international city, and he intends to make that case at the White House.  Gov. Sonny Perdue has traveled abroad in pursuit of international investments such as Kia Motors.

In responding to the president’s challenge of doubling our exports in five years, it would be necessary to have good leadership and strategy for Georgia’s export expansion by doubling our efforts in a coordinated and dedicated manner. 

C. G. Alexandrides, professor emeritus of management, Georgia State University (770-846-1498, www.mgtcga@langate.gsu.edu ) Dr. Alexandrides is author of “Go Global Georgia,” published in 1973 with an introduction by then-Gov. Jimmy Carter.

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