Release Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2003

GEORGIA ECONOMIC OUTLOOK LUNCHEON COMES TO WORLD CONGRESS CENTER December 4

ATHENS, Ga. — The 21st annual Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon, the state's biggest economic forecasting event, will take place Thursday, December 4, 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 2004 will feature opening remarks by Gov. 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, 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 has been dean of the Terry College since 1998. He previously served five years as 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 Economic Outlook series are RBC Centura, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Public Broadcasting Atlanta, Georgia Trend magazine, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism and the Georgia Economic Developers Association.

Additional sponsors for the Atlanta program are the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

Following the opening program in Atlanta, the Economic Outlook tour travels around the state to Savannah (December 11), Thomasville (January 7), Albany (January 8), Swainsboro (January 13), St. Simons Island (January 15), Augusta (January 23), Macon (January 28) and Columbus (January 29).

In Atlanta, registration costs $75 per person and $600 for a table of eight. To register or for more information, call (800) 884-1381. Online registration is available at http://www.terry.uga.edu/economic_outlook/registration.php.

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