The Georgia International Business Conference held earlier this year marked the first time that representatives of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Georgia Ports Authority met together in a public forum to discuss the importance of the global economy to the state.

The conference was important not only for this reason, but also because Ben DeCosta, aviation general manager at Hartsfield, and Sunny Park, secretary/treasurer of the ports’ board of directors, described the role that the global economy will continue to play in the state’s future.

A question and answer session dealt with concerns about Georgia’s educational system in preparing students for the future.

The conference, which was held at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park in February, also touched on the opportunities that the airport and the ports provide for minorities. Immigration and visa issues were discussed as well.

This week’s special report includes video footage of the comments of Mr. DeCosta and Mr. Park who were joined by Jorge Fernandez, vice president of Global Commerce at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Craig Lesser, a managing director of the Atlanta-based law firm McKennna Long & Aldridge LLP and commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Affairs from 2004-06, chaired the panel.

Mr. Lesser received the first Georgia International Economic Development Award at the conference for his initiatives to encourage international trade and foreign direct investment in the state while he was commissioner.

Video Coverage of the
Question and Answer Session