Governor Perdue Announces SEUS-Canadian Provinces Conference to be held in Savannah

Georgia's First City will host gathering of Canadian, Southeastern officials

MONTRÉAL –– In a historic ceremony this morning at the SEUS-Canadian Provinces conference, Governor Sonny Perdue signed a declaration to charter the SEUS-Canadian Provinces Alliance. Following the declaration signing, Governor Perdue also announced that the city of Savannah, Georgia, will host the SEUS-Canadian Provinces Alliance conference in early summer 2008.

"Savannah will be an ideal location to gather my fellow governors and industry leaders from the Southeast and showcase our unique brand of Southern hospitality to our Canadian friends and partners," Governor Perdue said. "This week's meetings have cemented the idea that there is great opportunity and promise in furthering our strong existing relationships with Canada's government and business officials."

The SEUS-Canada Provinces Alliance is modeled after the successful SEUS-Japan association, which attracts more than 500 representatives to its annual meeting. That conference is held in October and alternates each year between the Southeast and Japan. The SEUS-Canada Alliance has the potential to be even more successful, given the shorter travel distance for delegates and larger scope of business conducted between the two regions.

Governor Perdue was joined at the historic chartering in Montréal by governors from other Southeastern states, premiers from eastern and central Canadian provinces, U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins, Canadian Ambassador Michael Wilson, senior economic development officials, chamber of commerce executives, and business leaders for this conference. Governor Perdue, along with Premier Jean Charest of Québec, will co-chair the 2008 inaugural conference.

Prior to his time at the conference, Governor Perdue made business calls in and around Montréal, focusing on several key sectors including aerospace.

The Governor's delegation includes officials from the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) as well as members of Georgia's business community. Mr. Dennis Lockhart, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, delivered remarks during the conference's plenary session.

"Canada is one of Georgia's most important trading partners and its business community is a key investor in our state," said Ken Stewart, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "I look forward to rolling out the red carpet to the SEUS-Canadian Provinces Alliance in Savannah next summer."

The two-day conference in Montréal to launch the alliance culminated sixteen months of work among several organizations, including the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta and the Québec Government Delegation also in Atlanta.

The idea for a SEUS-Canadian Provinces Alliance coalesced during a June 2006 meeting among officials from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the U.S. Embassy in Canada, and the Canadian Consulate General for the Southeastern U.S. in Atlanta. Following a number of planning meetings, six Southeastern states (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee) and seven Canadian provinces (Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Québec) agreed to meet in Montréal to sign the association's charter.

The alliance will exist to promote trade, investment, tourism, educational and friendship ties between Canadian provinces and Southeastern states.

Georgia's 2006 exports to Canada totaled more than $4.7 billion and imports totaled more than $212.7 million worth of Canadian goods through the Savannah Customs District. Dozens of Canadian companies have locations in Georgia and Georgia companies have an equally strong presence in Canada. Georgia has operated a trade office in Canada since 1981, and Canada has had a consulate in Atlanta since 1973. Georgia is also host to the Quebec Trade & Investment Office and the Canadian-American Society of the Southeast U.S., a bi-national business association.

Co-chair of the SEUS-Canadian Provinces Alliance conference in 2008 will be Robert S. Jepson of Savannah, chairman and CEO of Jepson Associates, a private investment company. Jepson was previously chairman and CEO of Kuhlman Corporation from 1993 until 1999, a leading manufacturer of electrical and industrial components with over 5,000 customers in 60 countries. His first company was Jepson Corporation, which he founded in 1983 and built into a Fortune 500 company as a diversified group of operating companies, including Air-Maze, Atlantic Industries, Denman Tire, Hill Refrigeration and Signet Armorlite. He is a former member of the board of directors for Circuit City Stores, Inc., which has 800 stores in Canada.

Further details about the 2008 SEUS-Canadian Provinces Alliance conference to be held in Savannah, Georgia, will be finalized by state and provincial coordinators in the coming weeks.

This mission marks Governor Perdue's 13th overall international trip, the fifth within the Americas, and the second specifically to Canada during his 58 months in office. Previous visits include: Germany and the United Kingdom (June 2003); Japan and Korea (October 2003); El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (May 2004); Brazil, Chile, and Argentina (June 2004); Mexico (September 2004); Canada (July 2005); Japan (October 2005); Israel (November 2005); Korea (March 2006); Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Belgium (June 2007); and Japan and Korea (October 2007). The Governor also visited with United States military personnel during a Thanksgiving 2005 trip to Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.