Reed To Continue Trade Efforts In Brazil And Elsewhere

Reed said he was stunned to learn business and government officials he came across in Brazil weren’t aware of Hartsfield airport and the connections between Atlanta and major global brands.

“Everybody knows Coca-Cola but the folks in San Paulo didn’t connect Coca-Cola with us. Everybody knows Delta, but they didn’t connect Delta with us. Everybody knows CNN/Turner Broadcasting but they didn’t connect it with us.”

Brazil is the 7^th largest economy in the world.

Using existing state tax credits, Reed said there’s a major opportunity to attract Brazil’s film and television industry.

“It’s not on them to have the data. It’s on Atlanta to have provided the information.”

Reed said Brazil already has a strong cultural connection with Miami, but he wants Atlanta to be more competitive.  

”Because Atlanta has direct flights through Delta to Brasilia, San Paulo, and Rio, if we get down there and work at it…We have a very nice opportunity not to displace Miami but to be the secondary business market.”

Reed cited data showing Atlanta is in the top 10 nationally and top 30 internationally for foreign direct investment.

Reed traveled to China in his first term, but said his focus moving forward will be on South America, Mexico, and Africa.

Not helping matters, Reed added, is the way Georgia handles immigration. In 2011, state lawmakers passed one of the strictest immigration laws in the country.

“We just have to change our tone. The tone being put forth by some on issues related to immigration and foreign born citizens won’t work in a global economy,” said Reed.

In addition to foreign business, Reed said he’s “focused like a laser” on learning from Silicon Valley to nurture Atlanta’s tech community. He wants to build up a quarter billion dollar venture capital fund to help attract and keep talent.