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”.

My friend Kathe Falls, Director of International Trade at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, was nice enough to get me the 2007 trade statistics, which she has faster access to than I do. Trade statistics for 2007 reveal that China is now in second place on Georgia's list of export markets, behind only Canada. Exports to China from Georgia grew by 26% in 2007. That's really big news, and further indication of the rapidly growing Georgia-China relationship.