Consul General for Canada in the Southeastern United States, Nadia Theodore, will meet with Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert and other local and state leaders for lunch to discuss recent Canadian investments in the area, NAFTA, and additional opportunities to grow bilateral trade and create jobs. Other leaders will include Georgia State Senator John Kennedy, Georgia Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner for International Trade Mary Waters, and Macon Economic Development Commission Senior Vice President Pat Topping.

Media are invited to interview the Consul General and others at Marco Ristorante Italiano (4851 Forsyth Road) on Tuesday, October 3, at 1:30 p.m.

One of Macon-Bibb County’s goals in its Forward Together Strategic Plan is for the county to become the transportation, logistics, and cultural hub of Middle Georgia. The efforts of the Mayor and Commission, along with economic and community development partners, have increased awareness of Macon-Bibb County as a strategic location for business investment, and Canadian companies have taken note.

In 2016, bilateral trade between Canada and Georgia approached $10 billion, with nearly 331,000 jobs in Georgia depending upon it, making Canada Georgia’s top international trading partner.  In August, two major Canadian companies announced plans to invest more than a half billion dollars in Middle Georgia.

Irving Consumer Products (Irving) announced plans to build a $400 million state-of-the-art tissue plant in Macon-Bibb. Based in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, Irving is one of North America’s leading manufacturers of household paper and baby diaper products. The new plant will create more than 200 Georgia jobs.

Ontario-based Pure Flavor announced plans to build an $105 million hydroponic greenhouse in nearby Peach County. The new facility will create 200 Georgia jobs.