Brian Kemp, center, governor of the U.S. state of Georgia, speaks during an interview with reporters at the Conrad Seoul hotel, Monday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor
By Lee Min-hyung
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed a strong desire to attract more investments from Korean firms, as the U.S. state provides a “constant and stable” business environment that is minimally influenced by political uncertainties, he said, Monday.
Kemp was most enthusiastic about the state’s upside potential in being able to attract more investments from companies here ahead of the upcoming U.S. election which falls in November.
“I think, in a time of uncertainty, Georgia has the one certain thing that you will get a constant and good business environment with no ups and downs,” he said during a standing interview with The Korea Times. “We are in a crazy election year with crazy world politics, but Georgia has a steady, constant and good business environment.”
The remark reflects the escalating unrest felt by many conglomerates and medium-sized companies here that do business in the world’s largest economy, as they are deeply concerned about the potential reelection of former U.S. President Donald Trump in the upcoming elections.
A group of Korean firms, including Hyundai Motor Group, SK On and LG Energy Solution, are making mega-sized investments in the U.S. state by setting up manufacturing facilities for vehicles and batteries.
“That (the constant business environment) is really what companies are looking for,” Kemp said. “They are looking for stability. They are going to have great relationships with the state government, with the local government.”
He also displayed gratitude to the aforementioned Korean firms for having selected his state as a key strategic region for their manufacturing facilities.
Hyundai is particularly standing at the forefront with the planned opening of its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in October, an electric vehicle (EV) plant in Georgia.
“That project is moving very quickly,” Kemp said. He expects the facility to start operations possibly ahead of schedule.
“The company is very happy about that, but we still have a lot of work to do.”
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp delivers a speech on the relationship between Korea and the U.S. state during the Georgia Night networking event at the Conrad Seoul hotel, Monday. Yonhap
Last week, Kemp arrived in Seoul for the first time in five years, and met with top executives from Hyundai Motor Group, LG Group and SK Group, to encourage more investments from Korean partners. He also attended Georgia Night, a special networking event, at a hotel in Seoul, Monday, to discuss future ties with a group of businesspeople here.
He also spoke highly of Hyundai Motor’s growing profile regarding eco-friendly vehicles, such as EVs and hydrogen cars.
“We brought some of our policymakers, our legislators, senators and representatives to learn more about hydrogen, the next-generation clean energy and clean modes of transportation,” he said.
