Atlanta welcomes FTAA

Latin Trade, July, 2003

The new home of the Free Trade Area of the Americas' Secretariat should be strategically located for the 34 countries in the hemisphere. It should be a place with strong business connections and an extensive hospitality, transportation and technology infrastructure for business leaders throughout the Americas.

Atlanta, Georgia, is where the world's trade leaders come when they want to do business. More than 1,600 foreign headquarters representing 39 countries are located in the state. Today, Georgia is home to more than 15 Fortune 500 and 30 Fortune 1000 headquarters.

Hundreds of thousands of people saw Atlanta for the first time when the city hosted the 1996 Olympics, securing its place on the international stage. Atlanta and Georgia are proud of what visitors see when the spotlight shines on the city and state. Atlanta, Georgia, is the Gateway to the Americas and its government, civic and business leaders are committed to creating opportunities to do business with the Americas.

You will soon be hearing more about "Atlanta, Georgia--Gateway to the Americas," and the story of the commercial center of the Southeastern U.S. You are invited to visit Georgia's great capital city to experience for yourself its business-friendly climate and Southern hospitality.

TEN REASONS WHY ATLANTA, GEORGIA, IS THE BEST SITE FOR THE FTAA SECRETARIAT

Propelled by its "can-do" civic spirit, Atlanta, Georgia, has become the leading business center in the Southeastern United States and a powerful economic force throughout the Americas. A sophisticated and diverse metropolis of more than 4 million people, Atlanta today is ready to capitalize on its strength in the international business arena to become the permanent home of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Secretariat.

Atlanta's success in hosting global events like the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, as well as its convenient air service, skilled workforce and high quality of life, are compelling reasons for bringing the Secretariat to this gracious community, say civic leaders.

And as governments and private enterprise join together in the FTAA to expand business opportunities and improve the lives of people throughout the Western Hemisphere, Atlanta has yet another advantage to offer: Nobody knows more about building effective government-business partnerships than Atlanta.

"Targeting the FTAA Secretariat is just the latest in Georgia's investment in international economic growth," says Gov. Sonny Perdue, who serves as chairman of the board of Hemisphere Inc., a nonprofit enterprise that is spearheading "Atlanta, Georgia--Gateway to the Americas," the state's effort to locate the FTAA Secretariat permanently in Atlanta.

Civic leaders know that Atlanta--as the leading city in the fast-growing region of the United States--has the hospitality and convention infrastructure necessary to service both the FTAA Secretariat and the international business community. Atlanta has more than 90,000 hotel rooms, 8,000 restaurants and state-of-the-art meeting end trade show facilities.

"Atlanta and the state of Georgia are rising stars in international business and continue to gain momentum as a leading destination for trade, investment and tourism," says Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. "The Secretariat will need a strong business, transportation and hospitality infrastructure, and Atlanta has the resources in place to serve as the leading commercial center in the Southeast and the business and trade capital of the hemisphere."

Following its scheduled implementation in 2005, the FTAA will encompass 34 countries with approximately 800 million consumers and will create a free trade zone with a gross annual product of more than US$14 trillion. The headquarters of this hemispheric organization will be charged with administering the world's largest trading bloc. The FTAA Secretariat will be the crossroads for trade and business connections in the Americas.

As Tom Chapman, chairman and CEO of Equifax Inc. and vice-chair of the board of Hemisphere Inc., says, "We have the winning team and strategy in place to make this effort a success. The FTAA is vital in the future economic well-being of the region."

Following are the top 10 reasons Atlanta, Georgia, is the best site for the FTAA Secretariat.

1. ATLANTA IS A GLOBAL BUSINESS CENTER

For decades, U.S. companies have recognized Atlanta's excellence in the world of business. Now, the rest of the world has realized that this dynamic metropolitan region is an ideal location conducting global business, as well.

"Atlanta is the leading commercial center in the Southeastern United States," says Sam Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. "It makes sense for the Free Trade headquarters to be located here."

Atlanta's corporate community includes 13 Fortune 500 and 25 Fortune 1000 headquarters, such as BellSouth, CNN, the Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, Equifax, Home Depot, and UPS. All these companies have deep and long-standing relationships in Canadian business centers like Toronto and Montreal, and all are conducting business throughout the Western Hemisphere.