Japan & Georgia Relationship

Politics

Official relations between Japan and the state of Georgia were first inaugurated in 1973 with the establishment of a Georgia State Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism office in Tokyo. The opening of the Consulate General of Japan in the capital of Atlanta in April 1974 offered a major boost in bilateral political relations. The visit of the Emperor and Empress to Atlanta in June 1994 was a crowning touch to these developing political ties. Political relations and personal contacts are renewed and reinforced every year by Georgia state government officials at the Annual Joint Meeting of the Japan U.S. Southeast Association. The Japanese Government sponsored a visit of two Georgia state legislators to Japan in the late November-early December 1995, one of whom, Mr. Thurbert Baker, is currently the Attorney General of the State of Georgia.

Economy

Georgia is regarded as the center of Japanese industry in the U.S. Southeast. In fact, Japanese-affiliated companies have invested $7.2 billion in Georgia, where 352 Japanese-affiliated companies currently operate. These companies together employ 33,653　workers. Georgia's exports to Japan in 2005 amounted to $1.3 billion, making Japan it's 3rd largest export market.

Direct Investment by Japanese Companies in Georgia ($ Millions)