Release Date: December 11, 2002

Georgia Economic Outlook Luncheon Comes to World Congress Center December 18

ATHENS, Ga. — The 20th annual Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon, the state's biggest economic forecasting event, will take place Wednesday, December 18, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

Directed by the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia, the noon program annually draws more than 1,000 of the state's top business and governmental leaders for a detailed look into next year's economic prospects.

The Georgia Economic Outlook 2003 will feature opening remarks by Gov.-elect Sonny Perdue and UGA President Michael F. Adams, followed by overviews of the economic forecasts for the nation and the state of Georgia.

Nariman Behravesh, chief economist of Global Insight (formerly DRI-WEFA), one of the world's most prominent economic forecasting firms, will deliver the national economic outlook. Behravesh manages Global Insight's Global Macroeconomics Group and is responsible for developing the economic outlook and risk analysis for the United States, Europe, Japan and emerging markets. Dean P. George Benson of UGA's Terry College of Business will give the Georgia economic forecast. Benson came to UGA in 1998 after five years as the dean of the business school at Rutgers University.

The Terry College luncheon will include projections by the Selig Center for Economic Growth, as well as forecasts on interest rates, incomes and employment. Statewide sponsors of the program are the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Economic Developers Association, Georgia Trend magazine, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Business Chronicle, and the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

Following the opening program in Atlanta, the Economic Outlook tour travels around the state to Thomasville (January 8), Albany (January 9), Swainsboro (January 14), Augusta (January 16), Savannah (January 23), Brunswick (January 24), Macon (January 29) and Columbus (January 30).

In Atlanta, registration costs $75 per person and $600 for a table of eight. For information about registration, call 706-542-2134.

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