Gov. Brian Kemp announced Friday he will lead a delegation to Europe for a mission to strengthen business relationships with German and Polish companies, aiming to court new investment in Georgia.
The Republican governor and state economic development representatives will meet with companies that operate facilities or have projects under construction in Georgia. The itinerary includes visits with companies spanning several industries, including automotive part manufacturers, chemical producers and medical device makers.
The trip will begin next week after Monday’s inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and Kemp’s Tuesday budget briefing with state lawmakers, although its length wasn’t disclosed. It’s the latest in a string of international business pilgrimages Kemp has led, including visits to South Korea and Italy last year. Germany is one of Georgia’s most valuable international investors, and this will be Kemp’s second visit to the country since 2020.
“Georgia’s partnership with Germany has been instrumental in our economic success, as they are one of our largest trade partners and a major contributor to job creation and investment in our state,” he said in a news release. “ … This mission is an opportunity to reinforce that collaboration while also opening dialogues with an emerging market (in Poland), ensuring a brighter future for all Georgians.”
The second-term governor has made business recruitment a cornerstone of his campaigns as he builds political influence as a high-profile Republican. He’s also an oft-floated name to potentially challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026 or run for president himself in 2028.
Germany is Georgia’s fourth-largest export and import market, with more than $12.8 billion in trade moving between the two in 2023. Over the past 15 years, German companies have invested more than $3.9 billion in Georgia through projects with state involvement.
The state Department of Economic Development estimates there are 650 German-owned facilities employing roughly 42,000 workers across Georgia. Several prominent Georgia-based companies, such as Bridgestone Golf, Delta Air Lines and Graphic Packaging Holding, have operations in Germany as well.
“German companies excel in industries like life sciences and automotive manufacturing, and Georgia serves as a strategic gateway for them and other European businesses entering the U.S. market,” Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson said in the release.
The automotive industry has become one of Georgia’s fastest-growing sectors, especially across the electric vehicle and battery supply chain. Metro Atlanta is also home to the North American headquarters of Porsche and the U.S. headquarters of Mercedes-Benz. Over the past two decades, German automotive firms have invested about $830 million and employed 2,200 workers across Georgia, the release said.
Wilson added that the Poland portion of the trip will allow “Georgia to stay ahead of global trends, build new partnerships, and support local companies seeking to expand internationally.”
The trip’s itinerary includes visits to Carcoustics, KIRCHHOFF Automotive and GEDIA Automotive Group — three German automobile-related companies with Georgia operations. It also includes BASF, the world’s largest chemical producer with three Georgia facilities, and Gerresheimer, a medical device manufacturer that has operated a Peachtree City facility since 1993.
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