Gov. Brian Kemp will travel to Germany this week to bolster ties with the European nation and likely visit auto manufacturers with significant investments in Georgia.
The Republican departed for Germany with a small contingent Tuesday and will return this weekend. He left hours after he presented his spending plan to a key legislative committee, part of a weeklong blitz of budget hearings.
The governor’s office revealed scant details about the foreign trip in response to questions from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, aside from confirming that he’s planning to celebrate the state’s expanded economic development office in Munich.
But he's also expected to visit the headquarters of two German auto giants that house their North American headquarters in metro Atlanta: Mercedes Benz and Porsche. His travel contingent includes his wife, Marty, and several officials.
Germany is the fourth-largest purchaser of Georgia products, with top exports including aircraft parts, motor vehicles and wood pulp. Georgia imported nearly $10 billion worth of German products in 2018, making it the state’s second-largest trading partner.
It's the governor's second overseas trip since he took office last year. He trekked to South Korea in June, which he said was partly a "thank you" mission and partly a search for new jobs prospects.
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