By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOTWith $1.1 billion in exports to China last in 2006, this soaring dragon has become Georgia’s third largest export destination, up from sixth in 2005. Trade to and from China flowing to Georgia through Atlanta, Brunswick and Savannah totaled $12.1 billion in 2005, ranking Georgia as the sixth-largest port in the United States for imports and exports with China and the second largest port on the East Coast. According to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), China and Hong Kong accounted for more than 40 percent of its annual trade. Georgia’s relationship with China and manufacturers hailing from that and other Asian countries translates to good business for Georgia Port Authority (GPA) and its Port of Savannah and Port of Brunswick. For one, Chinese manufacturer General Protecht US, Inc. is locating a $30 million assembly and distribution facility on more than 200 acres in Barnesville, GA in Lamar County for its electrical products, wired devices and other related products. General Protecht US is a subsidiary company created by a joint venture between China-based General Protecht Group and Atlanta-based Heritage Capital Advisors LLC. “We chose metro Atlanta and Georgia because of its position in the heart of the nation’s most attractive region.” says Wusheng Chen, General Protecht chairman and CEO. “Lamar County offers a tremendous workforce, excellent business and political leadership, and plenty of room for expansion in the future. We will be able to receive components and parts easily from the Port of Savannah and assemble and distribute our final products through Atlanta’s outstanding logistics infrastructure. All of this region’s pieces are ideal for General Protecht as we take this important step in further developing our US presence.” Founded in 2001, Dongzheng, a large-scale export oriented enterprise has gained its own high and new technology patent under the protection of intellectual property. It is located in Liushi town—the electrical capital of China. ENDEARING CUSTOMERDistribution is also huge in Georgia, meaning distribution centers carrying Asian made goods are coming to town. Among them are Target and IKEA, which recently located major distribution centers near the Port of Savannah. (See related story “IKEA’s Move to Open DC in Savannah Signals Things to Come.”) These, and other businesses that import goods from Asia, have resulted in that continent now encamping 70 percent of the Georgia Port Authority’s market. “When we think of China, we think of it as an endearing customer of ours,” states Richard Morris, GPA director of External Affairs. “We think of them in this way not in just providing their import goods for our retail market, but in consuming and using Georgia made products to supply their growth and growing middle class.” Among those commodities are paper, pulp, wood, kale, clay, auto parts, machinery, large tires, agricultural equipment, and poultry. Georgia companies also have a strong presence in China. They include e Coca-Cola, Home Depot, GE Energy, Char-Broil, Concurrent Computer Corporation, and Micrometrics. Chinese companies in Georgia include COSCO North America, Kingwasong LLC, Yat Ming USA, Inc., Ecotech Machinery, Inc., and New West International, Inc. Beyond ocean cargo, strong ties are also cementing between China and Georgia on the air cargo side thanks to connections with UPS and Delta Airlines. Already Georgia imports some $8.2 billion from China through the Savannah Customs District with top imports including industrial and electrical machinery, furniture, toys, games, iron and steel products, and plastics. Two-way trade to and from China flowing through Georgia’s ports of Atlanta, Brunswick, and Savannah total over $12 billion, ranking Georgia as the sixth largest port in the United States for imports and exports with China and the second largest port on the East Coast. Savannah ranks sixth among US container ports in Asian imports and ranks second among US East Coast ports in imports