“I am passionate and bullish on relationship with India. It is my dream to have a substantial presence of Fulton County in India. In order to promote bilateral trade and investment, we are planning to open a regional office in Mumbai. Fulton is the epicenter of economic growth in USA and it is the largest county in Georgia. Atlanta is one of the 15 cities located in Fulton County. Fulton is located near Savannah Port, which is the fastest growing port in east coast of USA,” said Mr. Robb Pitts, Chairman, Fulton County Board of Commissioners at an interactive programme on ‘Trade and Investment Opportunities in Fulton, USA’. The programme was jointly organized by WTC Mumbai and All India Association of Industries (AIAI).

Mr. Pitts informed that fintech is a flourishing sector in Fulton County as 70% of credit card transaction in USA and Europe is processed in this region. There is also scope for bilateral cooperation in life science, healthcare technologies and logistics.

In his remarks, Mr. Al Nash, Executive Director, The North Fulton Community Improvement District said, “Fulton is an attractive destination for doing business, as it has low taxes, reasonable cost of living and favourable labour laws. Around 10 Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in this County. Fulton is the leading hub for logistics as it is home to the world’s second largest distribution facility of UPS. The county is a sought after destination for B2C and B2B logistics, including e-commerce companies.”

Speaking about the potential sectors for bilateral partnership, Mr. Al Nash mentioned, “Atlanta is the powerhouse of information technology, which is also a strong sector for India. Media and entertainment is another focus sector for bilateral partnership. Fulton County has world class studios for film and television production, music recording facilities and profound availability of talent. The hub for film production is moving from Los Angles to Georgia. We look forward to collaborating with India on post-production technologies and gaming technologies. Majority of the top 100 Hollywood movies were shot in Fulton County in 2017.”

Mr. Al Nash concluded by pointing out that Fulton County is an attractive destination for higher education and there are more than 300,000 students pursuing higher education courses in the region.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) said, “India is the 9th largest trade partner of USA and we are also the leading partner in investment. Although bilateral trade has slowed because of trade and tariff barriers and restrictive regulations related to child labour, I hope we will overcome these hurdles in the near future. There is great scope for enhancing bilateral trade with Atlanta, as it is home to many Fortune 500 companies. AIAI and WTC Mumbai will support trade and industry from both sides to explore mutually beneficial partnership.”

Ms. Rupa Naik, Senior Director, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai proposed vote of thanks for the event.

Mr. Y.R. Warerkar, Director General, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai felicitated the dignitaries during the event.

Participants at the event sought clarification on investing in Fulton County, securing government contracts in the region, forging joint ventures with local organisations, among others.

(from left to right) Ms. Rupa Naik, Senior Director, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai, Mr. Y.R. Warerkar, Director General, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai, Mr. Robb Pitts, Chairman, Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai and President, All India Association of Industries (AIAI) and Mr. Al Nash, Executive Director, The North Fulton Community Improvement District at an interactive programme on ‘Trade and Investment Opportunities in Fulton, USA’