When Gov. Sonny Perdue and his Georgia entourage arrive in Shanghai on Delta Air Lines Inc.’s inaugural flight to China, familiar faces should make them feel at home.

As part of its strategy to target the emerging economies of the so-called “BRIC” countries—Brazil, Russia, India and China—the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce sent ahead a delegation March 21 that will visit eight Chinese cities before merging with the governor’s envoy in Shanghai.

All told, about 75 representatives of Georgia and metro Atlanta will blitz China at the end of March and beginning of April, according to the chamber. 

The surge of Georgians in the Asian nation is another milestone in the ongoing cooperation among chamber representatives, city organizations, government officials and business leaders to court Chinese trade and investment in the state.

Delta’s flight, granted last September, has been looked at as the keystone in that campaign and officials say its launch represents the beginning of a flood of opportunities. 

“When it comes to economic development in the global marketplace, direct air routes and diplomatic ties are essential. Once they are in place, companies will come,” said R. Mason Cargill, a partner at law firm Jones Day.  Mr. Cargill led the chamber’s panel of leaders supporting the flight.

The metro chamber last year led a 14-state petition to gain support for the flight, garnering the backing of 12 governors, 27 mayors and 20 chambers throughout the Southeast. 

On his first trip to China, Mr. Perdue will test out the Delta flight as well as open Georgia’s first trade and tourism office in Beijing, the state's 11th worldwide. 

On the same day Mr. Perdue arrives in Shanghai, John Woodward, the chamber’s director for foreign investment, will be giving a seminar about business in metro Atlanta.

The metro chamber has had to split into two groups to maximize its time covering eight cities. The teams will be led by Mr. Woodward and Jorge Fernandez, the chamber's vice president for global commerce.

Cities on the agenda include Beijing, Changsha, Nanchang, Ningbo, Shanghai, Wenzhou, Wuhan and Xi’an.