It’s a long way from Summerville to Shanghai, but that’s the journey Chattooga Chamber of Commerce President David Tidmore is on.

Representatives from the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority and chamber leaders from Chattooga, Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties will be in China through April 24. 

The group also includes representatives from the Dalton-Whitfield County and the Chatsworth-Murray County chambers, along with other economic development officials from across Georgia.

Tidmore said he doesn’t know exactly what’s on the itinerary but the group would be in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou and Hangzhou during the nine-day visit. 

“The state has done a little preliminary work in setting up meetings with folks in Beijing and Shanghai,” Tidmore said. “We’re going to get in the batter’s box. That’s the only way to get a hit.”

Officials in China are paying for much of the expenses that will be incurred by the Georgia delegation, he said.

“We’re going to do a lot of tourist-type stuff, but they’re carrying us to a lot of factories, too,” Tidmore said. 

Jade and pearl factories in Beijing will be among the stops on the trip, along with silk factories in Suzhou and Shanghai. A green tea plantation will be among the stops in Hangzhou.

“Georgia has a lot of (exports to China) such as chicken, peanuts and wood pellets already. Mohawk already has a facility there,” Tidmore said. 

Read more: CatWalkChatt – NW Georgia officials in China