International dignitaries tour Northeast Georgia

GAINESVILLE – Representatives from nearly 20 countries took part in the 23rd annual Georgia Department of Economics VIP tour, which highlights destinations, businesses, educational institutions and economic development partnerships in the Northeast Georgia area.

Maggie Large, Communication Specialist for the Georgia Department of Economics, said they choose a different region each year.

“This year we’re in the northeast. When we are planning the tours, we try and get a good mix of traditional and economic developments,” said Large.

Large said they focus on a variety of places. Some of the locations the digitaries visited this year were Kubota for manufacturing, Jaemor Farms for Agri-tourism, the Kangaroo Farm in Dawsonville and a few state parks.

The tour is approximately two and a half days long and kicked off Wednesday at the Falcons Complex in Flowery Branch. From there, the visitors traveled to Kubota and then to Jaemor Farms for lunch.

The last stop is Tallulah Falls State Park, with an overnight stay in Clayton. The group will continue to head north the next couple of days making a loop around Northeast Georgia.

Canadian Consul General Brian Oak says the tour helps them become familiar with smaller cities.

“For the Consular Corps of Atlanta, the tour is an annual opportunity for us to get out of the city of Atlanta to see the smaller communities,” said Oak.

Oak also said that the tours help them learn about the economic standpoints of each city, as well as how different businesses flourish in those cities. He also said he loves the southern hospitality Gainesville has shown him.

Gainesville Mayor Myrtle Figueras said she was overwhelmed with the dignitaries visiting her city.

“Wow! It gives me great pleasure because I want people to see the open air and see where we are and see how beautiful Gainesville and its surroundings are,” said Figueras.

Mayor Figueras also said the tour allows the different countries in attendance a chance to see if they would like their businesses to be located in the area.

According to the Georgia Department of Economics, 53 countries operate more than 2,500 internationally-owned facilities in Georgia. In 2008 international companies accounted for $1.08 billion in investment and the creation of 7,001 jobs.