Lt. Governor Cagle: Opportunities for Georgia in South America’s Largest City
SAO PAULO - With almost 12 million residents in the city itself and 20 million in the metro area, Sao Paulo is truly breathtaking in scale. It is the largest city in South America and one of the biggest in the world.
The racing Brazilian economy is generating billions in new spending here. Construction is happening everywhere, and the people who live here are always moving. The desire to grow economically can be felt as soon as you step off the plane.
Last night, we arrived in time for a late dinner with the leaders of the Federation of Industries in Sao Paulo, the largest business organization in South America. We discussed numerous business opportunities for Georgia, with a particular focus on biofuels, shipping, port operations, aerospace and agriculture.
This morning, we called on several companies in Sao Paulo. Combined they represent over 20 billion in capital. As their economy grows, they are seeking international opportunities to invest and I am confident we put Georgia on the top of their list.
Most importantly, we began talks on bringing a large delegation of Brazilian companies to Georgia to significantly increase the development of our biofuels industry. If we can accelerate growth immediately, we have a real opportunity to make Georgia a world center for the biofuels industry. As gas prices continue to rise, Georgia stands to gain thousands of new jobs and lower prices at the pump if we succeed.
Tonight, we fly to Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil. We will meet with several top Brazilian leaders before returning to Georgia.