Kemp in Germany for economic development mission

Gov. Brian Kemp, center, is flanked by House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, right, and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan as he speaks during the State of the State address before a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in Atlanta.(AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Gov. Brian Kemp, center, is flanked by House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, right, and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan as he speaks during the State of the State address before a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in Atlanta.(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is visiting Germany on an economic development mission, his second official trip abroad since taking office last year.

The Republican governor departed on Tuesday and plans to return this weekend, according to a statement from his office.

One of Kemp's first planned stops is a ribbon cutting at the state's new European office in Munich. Kemp also plans to visit several German companies with a presence in Georgia.

Kemp is accompanied by his wife, first lady Marty Kemp. "Marty and I are honored to travel to Germany - Georgia's fourth largest export market and home to our European office - to reaffirm our strategic partnership and strengthen business ties across multiple industry sectors," Kemp said in a statement.

In 2018, exports to Germany from Georgia totaled $2.3 billion, while imports from Germany to Georgia totaled $9.8 billion, according to the statement.

"Georgia's official presence in Europe for more than 45 years has led to investments from some of Germany's largest corporations, and these strategic investments have paid off," said Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson.

Kemp trekked to South Korea in June for his first economic development trip abroad as governor.

Upcoming Events