Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is leading a state delegation embarking on an international trip to promote economic development opportunities to business leaders in Brazil and Argentina.
First Lady Marty Kemp will join the Governor, alongside Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, who will represent the state’s farmers and agriculture industry. Members of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) will join to strengthen ties with economic partners.
“Companies from South America have invested over $160 million in Georgia over the last six years, with the bulk of investments and jobs coming from countries where Georgia is represented,” Kemp said in a press release. “Since I took office, businesses that operate in Brazil have created over a thousand jobs for Georgians, with many investments strengthening established sectors like our No. 1 industry of agriculture.”
In addition to others, Major Gen. Richard Wilson will join the delegation for a meeting with the Georgia National Guard he leads and its Argentinian counterparts, as part of the Department of Defense State Partnership Program.
After establishing a consular presence in Georgia in 1899, Brazil and Argentina have had continuous representation in Georgia since 1995, according to a press release. In 2024, Georgia’s exports to Brazil totaled $748 million, while exports to Argentina totaled $120 million.
Representatives from the GDEcD, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and the Georgia Ports Authority will conduct meetings with firms operating or under construction in the Peach State, as well as attend diplomatic and bilateral meetings.
“The success of Georgia’s #1 industry depends on our farmers’ ability to get their goods to market and leveraging Georgia’s port system and reducing trade barriers with countries around the globe are vital components of ensuring the continued success of Georgia agriculture and our state as a whole,” Harper said.
GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson noted the visit aligns with the 30th anniversary of Georgia’s representation in Brazil.
“Through our ports and collaborations such as the Delta Air Lines-LATAM partnership, Georgia’s connectivity to South America means opportunity,” Wilson said. “Brazil and Argentina are home to some of the largest agriculture and infrastructure companies in South America, aligning with Georgia’s strong agribusiness and food and beverage industries as well as the state’s continued growth and investments in infrastructure development.”
