Korean Governors Association Tours West Point Kia Plant
In a show of the growing cooperation between South Korea and Georgia, representatives from the Governors Association of Korea (GAOK) traveled to West Point to tour Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) on a trip organized by the Institute's International Center. The tour was the result of a memorandum of understanding between the Institute and GAOK, and came just weeks after the Seoul Municipal Government, through another memorandum of understanding, designated the Institute as manager of short-term training programs in the United States.
Following the tour of the Kia plant, the GAOK contingent met with West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson, LaGrange Mayor Jeff Lukken, Troup County Commission Chairman Richard Wolfe, and Troup County Assistant Manager Tod Tentler to encourage current and future economic initiatives between Georgia and South Korea.
"We have a great opportunity to deepen our relations between Georgia and South Korea, and visits like these could lead to opportunities on a range of issues including better economic development prospects for both sides," said Dr. Rusty Brooks, director of the Institute's International Center.
The GAOK contingent also learned about municipal governance in Georgia in meetings with a number of local government officials, association representatives, and Institute faculty. These included meetings with Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis, Athens Mayor Nancy Denson, and representatives of the Georgia Municipal Association and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
The contingent traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss future trade and economic partnerships for the state of Georgia with representatives of the offices of Sen. Johnny Isakson and Rep. John Barrow and visited Boston, Massachusetts, to meet with officials about regional transportation planning issues.
The International Center's tailored approach to serving the diverse needs of its global clientele is backed by the Vinson Institute's more than 80 years of helping public officials excel on behalf of their constituencies.
