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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

China’s Largest Product Conformity Firm Opens First U.S. Office In Atlanta

06/15/2012
Center Testing International, China's largest product conformity testing organization, will open its first U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

Georgia's Department of Economic Development said Atlanta was selected from among other competing sites for the company's first U.S. office. "Dallas and Atlanta both offered an exceptionally pro-business environment and excellent access to our clients across the country; however, our business was met with an incredible welcome in Atlanta," said Harold Hodder, president of CTI's U.S. operations.

While incentives to attract the firm were not immediately available, Hodder said; "Our contacts at Georgia Economic Development made it easy for us to meet the right people and quickly get our company located and up and running. We also confirmed that Atlanta offered our company great value for our money as a city with one of the lowest business operating costs in the country."

The focus of the new U.S. office will be customer technical support, sales and marketing, and provision of information on product conformity testing requirements and results, as well as product life cycle legal compliance requirements. While hiring figures were not released, state officials said Atlanta's strategic location and pool of high-skilled labor will benefit CTI's entrance into the U.S. market. With a large Chinese expatriate community, Atlanta also offers CTI a source of skilled bi-lingual employees.

"This announcement marks another step forward in our strategy to strengthen economic and business ties with China," said Jorge Fernandez, Vice President of Global Commerce for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. "MAC is pleased to partner with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Georgia Tech to support this project, which grows Atlanta's industry capabilities and adds to our overall economic strength."

"Georgia is pleased to welcome CTI to the growing community of Chinese companies that have made a home in our state," said Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Chris Cummiskey. "China is Georgia's number two trading partner, and a critical trade partner with the U.S. With the growing importance of product quality and safety in both countries, we see great potential for growth in this field, so we're delighted to be home to China's leading product testing, inspection, certification, and consulting firm."

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