Why the Southeast
Atlanta is undeniably one of the most active business communities in the U.S. The city boasts one of the busiest airports in the world, several Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered here, and the city and its surrounding suburbs consistently receive high ratings for quality of life. Atlanta has always been internationally diverse, but the metro area’s international profile accelerated after hosting the 1996 Olympic Games. This event helped to drive worldwide awareness for the Southeast as a great place to live, work and play.
Some highlights:
- Metro Atlanta’s population of 5.1 million consumers is the eighth largest market in the United States.
- Atlanta is home to 42 bi-national chambers of commerce and two regional chambers; 37 honorary consulates and 25 full consulates; and 62 governments with consular and/or trade & investment offices.
- The Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport provides access to more than 80 percent of the U.S. within two hours and non-stop direct flights to more than 200 U.S. and 80 international locations in 50 countries.
- More than 29 Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in the Atlanta area; more than 700 of Fortune Magazine’s largest U.S. companies have operations in metro Atlanta.
- More than 400 international companies from around the world have set up operations in the Atlanta area over the past ten years.
- We have more than six accredited universities in the Greater Atlanta area that produce graduates across all industries.
- Atlanta is classified as a General Purpose Foreign Trade Zone #26, a federally sanctioned site from where foreign materials by exporters may be stored, exhibited, distributed, assembled and used in manufacturing operations duty-free until they enter the U.S. marketplace.
- More than 150 cultural associations and organizations provide services and help preserve the rich cultural diversity of all its citizens.
