Georgia officials stressed the importance of keeping the state’s economy globally focused as they presented the governor’s international business awards to companies and individuals at a black-tie gala hosted by the World Trade Center Atlanta last weekend.

“Globalization is here,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, in his introductory speech at the gala. “It’s for real; it’s not a theory, and it’s at our doorstep, destined to bring jobs into our state.”

Karen Handel, Georgia’s secretary of state, also addressed the audience before helping Craig Lesser, the chairman of the World Trade Center Atlanta and former commissioner of the Georgia department, present the awards.  

In her keynote speech, Ms. Handel talked about the 1996 Olympic Games as the occasion that thrust Atlanta onto the world stage, introducing the American Southeast to the rest of the world through special Southern foods like grits, fried okra and sweet tea. 

Atlanta’s international business environment has only improved in the 11 years since then, Ms. Handel said, as Georgia has attracted 2,200 internationally owned companies comprised of 45,000 employees from about 44 countries. 

She specifically mentioned large investments like the Kia Motor Co. plant in West Point and the recently announced plans for Chinese company Sany Heavy Machinery Co. to build a plant in Peachtree City, but she stressed that small- to medium-sized companies are the “backbone” of the Georgia economy.

The U.S.’ 14th largest exporter, Georgia has 20 career consulates and 39 honorary consulates, and the state is doing everything it can to attract and keep international business, Ms. Handel added.

“We have the responsibility to take care of you and retain your business,” she said, thanking international business leaders for their investment in the state. 

The state partners with the World Trade Center and the consular corps in the way that it sells Georgia to the rest of the world, she added.

The winners of the 2007 governor’s international awards are:

• For international investments: Pratt Industries Inc. of Conyers, which provides about 1,000 manufacturing jobs for the state.  Also nominated were Merial Ltd. of Duluth and Pirelli Tire North America of Rome.
  
  
• For international trade: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. of Savannah.  Also nominated were Euramax International Inc. of Norcross and Crawford & Co. of Atlanta.
  
  
• For international educational program: Global Partners MBA Program, Georgia State University in Atlanta, accepted by Karen Loch, director of the program.  Also nominated were Elberton-Mure Town, Japan Sister City Exchange Program 
of Elberton, Savannah Music Festival
 of Savannah and the University of West Georgia 
International Finance and Economics Program 
in Carrollton.
  
  
• For individual contribution to the international community: Christopher Smith, an attorney in Macon and honorary consul of Denmark in Georgia.  Also nominated were Kathe Falls, director of global commerce, international trade services division of the Georgia department and Harold Hagans, president, Atlanta Customs Brokers & International Freight Forwarders Inc.

Lauri Clos-Fisher, executive vice president for the trade center and the gala’s organizer, presented Kathe Falls with a special award recognizing Ms. Falls’ help in revitalizing the World Trade Center’s international awards last year and bringing the event about this year.