Atlanta, Georgia: the gateway to the Americas'

Latin Trade, August, 2003

With its world-class business and civic institutions, Atlanta, Georgia, is playing a leading role in the international arena. Now, Atlanta is ready to capitalize on its position as the Gateway to the Americas to become the permanent home of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) Secretariat.

A sophisticated metropolis of more than 4 million people--including a strong Latin American community - Atlanta is known for its "can-do" civic spirit. It has proven ability to host global events such as the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, convenient air service via Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, extensive meeting and convention facilities, a skilled workforce and a high quality of life. All these are key reasons for locating the FTAA Secretariat in the heart of the fastest-growing U.S. region.

"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.

As the Southeast's leading business and financial center, Atlanta is the home of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, part of the U.S. central bank that oversees commercial banking operations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Atlanta is also the headquarters of 13 Fortune 500 and 25 Fortune 1000 companies, including BellSouth, CNN, the Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, and United Parcel Service (UPS). These companies have long-standing relationships in Canadian business centers like Toronto and Montreal and conduct business throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Well-known civic and humanitarian institutions are also based in Atlanta, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose responsibilities include monitoring disease outbreaks and supporting research into better forms of treatment.

On the international level, Atlanta is the headquarters of CARE, one of the world's largest private international humanitarian organizations. Founded in 1945 to provide relief to survivors of World War II, CARE now encompasses 11 organizations dedicated to ending poverty in the Americas and around the world.

Another of Atlanta's global institutions is The Carter Center, chaired by former President Jimmy Carter, whose mission is to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. The Carter Center has been a strong advocate on issues like arms limitation in the Western Hemisphere and the eradication of River Blindness. Since The Carter Center and its partners began the River Blindness Program in 1996, the number of people at risk in the Americas has fallen from 4.7 million to an estimated 500,000 persons today.

"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."

For more information on Atlanta, Georgia's FTAA efforts, contact:

* Carlos Martel, Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism, 404.657.0670

* Hans Gant, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 404.586.8456

* Bill Howard, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, 404.521.6634

10 REASONS TO CHOOSE ATLANTA, GEORGIA

1. A global business center

2. Effective business partnership

3. World-class meeting facilities

4. Warm Southern hospitality

5. A strategic location with convenient access

6. A leading trade center

7. An international telecom and technology hub

8. A diverse city with a growing Latin community

9. A skilled workforce an renowned academic institutions

10. An exceptional lifestyle