Tracking flow of Asian dollars flow to GA, metro ATL

$ Inbound from China: In last 18 months (without directs flights with China), approximately $75M in Chinese investment in the metro Atlanta area (Sany, $30M; General Protecht, $30M; Kingwasong, $15M).

"The direct flights don't translate easily into set $-figures. They translate into infinite possibilities/opportunities."

$ Outbound from GA to China: $1.1B (2006) GA exports to China almost tripled over the 5-year period, 2001-2006 GA Companies in China: Coca-Cola, UPS, The Home Depot, GE Energy, Concurrent Computer Corp, Scientific-Atlanta, CNN and Micrometrics. One example, UPS has invested more than $600M in China over the past five years. Another example, The Home Depot recently established retail operations in China (no $ figures)

$ Outbound to China through GA Ports: $2.95B (2006) $ Inbound from China through GA Ports: $12.7B (2006)

*China is now Georgia's Top Trading Partner (based on traffic through ports) - particularly important for GA's logistics/distribution industry

Economic Impact of China trade (inbound): Direct flights will make metro Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the Southeast region more appealing for Chinese investment. With direct flights, Chinese executives will become more aware of Atlanta and will be more apt to invest in metro Atlanta as a location for US operations.

Economic Impact of China trade (outbound): Direct flights will allow metro Atlanta companies easier access to business opportunities in China. Whether a metro Atlanta company exports a product or a service, the direct flights will make trade with China easier and open up opportunities in the Chinese markets for our local companies.

Economic Impact of air route: A 2005 study estimated the impact of a direct Atlanta/China flight on the US economy to be approximately $400M/year.

(Courtesy: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, International Trade Development.)